Humanized anti-IL-8 monoclonal antibodies

ABSTRACT

Humanized anti-IL-8 monoclonal antibodies and variants thereof are described for use in diagnostic applications and in the treatment of inflammatory disorders.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to humanized anti-interleukin-8 (IL-8) antibodies and to high affinity variants of such antibodies.

BACKGROUND

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is neutrophil chemotactic peptide secreted by a variety of cells in response to inflammatory mediators (for a review see Hebert et al. Cancer Investigation 11(6):743 (1993)). IL-8 can play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disorders, such as adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), septic shock, and multiple organ failure. Immune therapy for such inflammatory disorders can include treatment of an affected patient with anti-IL-8 antibodies.

Sticherling et al. (J. Immunol. 143:1628 (1989)) disclose the production and characterization of four monoclonal antibodies against IL-8. WO 92/04372, published Mar. 19, 1992, discloses polyclonal antibodies which react with the receptor-interacting site of IL-8 and peptide analogs of IL-8, along with the use of such antibodies to prevent an inflammatory response in patients. St. John et al. (Chest 103:932 (1993)) review immune therapy for ARDS, septic shock, and multiple organ failure, including the potential therapeutic use of anti-IL-8 antibodies. Sekido et al. (Nature 365:654 (1993)) disclose the prevention of lung reperfusion injury in rabbits by a monoclonal antibody against IL-8. Mulligan et al. (J. Immunol. 150:5585 (1993)), disclose protective effects of a murine monoclonal antibody to human IL-8 in inflammatory lung injury in rats.

WO 95/23865 (International Application No. PCT/US95/02589 published Sep. 8, 1995) demonstrates that anti-IL-8 monoclonal antibodies can be used therapeutically in the treatment of other inflammatory disorders, such as bacterial pneumonias and inflammatory bowel disease.

Anti-IL-8 antibodies are additionally useful as reagents for assaying IL-8. For example, Sticherling et al. (Arch. Dermatol. Res. 284:82 (1992)), disclose the use of anti-IL-8 monoclonal antibodies as reagents in immunohistochemical studies. Ko et al. (J. Immunol. Methods 149:227 (1992)) disclose the use of anti-IL-8 monoclonal antibodies as reagents in an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) for IL-8.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention is an antibody fragment selected from the group consisting of: (1) an antibody fragment comprising a light chain variable domain amino acid sequence comprising the complementarity determining regions of the 6G4.2.5LV11N35A light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO: 56); and (2) an antibody fragment comprising a heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence comprising amino acids 1-230 of the 6G4.2.5HV11 heavy chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIGS. 37A-37B (SEQ ID NO: 60).

Further aspects of the invention are a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding the above-described antibody fragment; an expression vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule operably linked to control sequences recognized by a host cell transfected with the vector; a host cell transfected with the vector; and a method of producing the antibody fragment comprising culturing the host cell under conditions wherein the nucleic acid encoding the antibody fragment is expressed, thereby producing the antibody fragment, and recovering the antibody fragment from the host cell.

Another aspect of the invention is an anti-IL-8 monoclonal antibody selected from the group consisting of: (1) an anti-IL-8 monoclonal antibody comprising an antigen binding site comprising the complementarity determining regions of the 6G4.2.5LV11N35A light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO: 56) and the complementarity determining regions of the 6G4.2.5HV11 heavy chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIGS. 37A-37B (SEQ ID NO: 60); and (2) an anti-IL-8 monoclonal antibody comprising a heavy chain variable domain containing amino acids 1-230 of the 6G4.2.5HV11 heavy chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIGS. 37A-37B (SEQ ID NO: 60) and further comprising a light chain variable domain containing amino acids 1-219 of the 6G4.2.5LV11 light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIG. 31B (SEQ ID NO: 51).

Further aspects of the invention are a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding the above-described antibody; an expression vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule operably linked to control sequences recognized by a host cell transfected with the vector; a host cell transfected with the vector; and a method of producing the antibody comprising culturing the above-described host cell under conditions wherein the nucleic acid encoding the antibody is expressed, thereby producing the antibody, and recovering the antibody from the host cell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The file of this patent contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Patent and Trademark Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

FIG. 1 is a graph depicting the blocking of IL-8 mediated elastase release from neutrophils by anti-IL-8 monoclonal antibody 5.12.14.

FIG. 2 is a graph depicting the inhibition of ¹²⁵ I-IL-8 binding to neutrophils by unlabeled IL-8.

FIG. 3 demonstrates that a isotype matched negative control Fab (denoted as "4D5 Fab") does not inhibit the binding of ¹²⁵ I-IL-8 to human neutrophils.

FIG. 4 is a graph depicting the inhibition of binding of ¹²⁵ I-IL-8 to human neutrophils by chimeric 5.12.14 Fab with an average IC₅₀ of 1.6 nM.

FIG. 5 is a graph depicting the inhibition of binding of ¹²⁵ I-IL-8 to human neutrophils by chimeric 6G.4.25 Fab with an average IC₅₀ of 7.5 nM.

FIG. 6 demonstrates the inhibition of human IL-8 mediated neutrophil chemotaxis by chimeric 6G4.2.5 Fab and chimeric 5.12.14 Fab.

FIG. 7 demonstrates the relative abilities of chimeric 6G4.2.5 Fab and chimeric 5.12.14 Fab to inhibit rabbit IL-8 mediated neutrophil chemotaxis.

FIG. 8 depicts the stimulation of elastase release from human neutrophils by various concentrations of human and rabbit IL-8. The relative extent of elastase release was quantitated by measurement of absorbance at 405 nm. The data represent mean±SEM of triplicate samples.

FIG. 9 is a graph depicting the ability of chimeric 6G4.2.5 Fab and chimeric 5.12.14 Fab to inhibit elastase release from human neutrophils stimulated by human IL-8. The results were normalized to reflect the percentage of elastase release elicited by 100 nM IL-8 alone. The data represent the mean±SEM of three separate experiments performed on different days with different blood donors. IC₅₀ values were calculated by four parameter fit.

FIG. 10 is a graph depicting the relative abilities of chimeric 6G4.2.5 Fab and chimeric 5.12.14 Fab to inhibit elastase release from human neutrophils stimulated by rabbit IL-8. The results were normalized to reflect the percentage of elastase release elicited by 100 nM IL-8 alone. The data represent the mean±SEM of three separate experiments performed on different days with different blood donors. IC₅₀ values were calculated by four parameter fit.

FIGS. 11A-11J are a set of graphs depicting the following parameters in a rabbit ulcerative colitis model: FIG. 11A depicts myeloperoxidase levels in tissue; FIG. 11B depicts IL-8 levels in tissue; FIG. 11C depicts colon weight; FIG. 11D depicts gross inflammation; FIG. 11E depicts edema; FIG. 11F depicts extent of necrosis; FIG. 11G depicts severity of necrosis; FIG. 11H depicts neutrophil margination; FIG. 11I depicts neutrophil infiltration; and FIG. 11J mononuclear infiltration.

FIG. 12 is a graph depicting the effect of anti-IL-8 monoclonal antibody treatment on the number of neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in animals infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Treatment with 6G4.2.5 significantly reduced the number of neutrophils present in the BAL fluid compared to animals treated with isotype control mouse IgG (FIG. 12).

FIG. 13 depicts the DNA sequences (SEQ ID NOS: 1-6) of three primers designed for each of the light and heavy chains. Multiple primers were designed in order to increase the chances of primer hybridization and efficiency of first strand cDNA synthesis for cloning the variable light and heavy regions of monoclonal antibody 5.12.14.

FIG. 14 depicts the DNA sequences (SEQ ID NOS: 7-10) of one forward primer and one reverse primer for the 5.12.14 light chain variable region amplification.

FIG. 15 depicts the DNA sequences (SEQ ID NOS: 11-15) of one forward primer and one reverse primer for the 5.12.14 heavy chain variable region amplification.

FIG. 16 depicts the DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO: 16) and the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 17) of the 5.12.14 light chain variable region and partial murine constant light region. CDRs are indicated by either X-ray crystallography (underlined amino acids) or by Kabat sequence comparison (amino acids denoted with asterisk). Important restriction sites are indicated in italics. The signal peptide of STII is amino acids -23 to -1. The murine variable light region is amino acids 1 to 109. The partial murine constant light region is amino acids 110 to 123 (in italics).

FIG. 17 depicts the DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO: 18) and the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 19) of the 5.12.14 heavy chain variable region and partial murine constant heavy region. CDRs are indicated by either X-ray crystallography (underlined amino acids) or by Kabat sequence comparison (amino acids denoted with asterisk). Important restriction sites are indicated in italics. The signal peptide of STII is amino acids -23 to -1. The murine variable heavy region is amino acids 1 to 120. The partial murine constant heavy region is amino acids 121 to 130.

FIG. 18 depicts the DNA sequences (SEQ ID NOS: 20-23) of amplification primers used to convert murine light and heavy chain constant region residues to their human equivalents.

FIG. 19 depicts the DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO: 24) and the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 25) for the 5.12.14 light chain variable region and the human IgG1 light chain constant region. CDRs are indicated by either X-ray crystallography (underlined amino acids) or by Kabat sequence comparison (amino acids denoted with asterisk). The human constant region is denoted in italics. The signal peptide of STII is amino acids -23 to -1. The murine variable light region is amino acids 1 to 109. The human constant light region is amino acids 110 to 215.

FIGS. 20A-20B depict the DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO: 26) and the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 27) for the 5.12.14 heavy chain variable region and the heavy chain constant region of human IgG1. CDRs are indicated by either X-ray crystallography (underlined amino acids) or by Kabat sequence comparison (amino acids denoted with asterisk). The human constant region is denoted in italics. The signal peptide of STII is amino acids -23 to -1. The murine variable heavy region is amino acids 1 to 120. The human constant heavy region is amino acids 121 to 229.

FIG. 21 depicts the DNA sequences (SEQ ID NOS: 1-6) of three primers designed for each of the light and heavy chains. Multiple primers were designed in order to increase the chances of primer hybridization and efficiency of first strand cDNA synthesis for cloning the variable light and heavy regions of monoclonal antibody 6G4.2.5.

FIG. 22 depicts the DNA sequences (SEQ ID NOS: 28-31) of one forward primer and one reverse primer for the 6G4.2.5 light chain variable region amplification.

FIG. 23 depicts the DNA sequences (SEQ ID NOS: 32, 33, 11, 15, 14, 13) of one forward primer and one reverse primer for the 6G4.2.5 heavy chain variable region amplification.

FIG. 24 depicts the DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO: 34) and the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 35) of the 6G4.2.5 light chain variable region and partial murine constant light region. CDRs are indicated by either X-ray crystallography (underlined amino acids) or by Kabat sequence comparison (amino acids denoted with asterisk). Useful cloning sites are in italics. The signal peptide of STII is amino acids -23 to -1. The murine variable light region is amino acids 1 to 114. The partial murine constant light region is amino acids 115 to 131.

FIG. 25 depicts the DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO: 36) and the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 37) of the 6G4.2.5 heavy chain variable region and partial murine constant heavy region. CDRs are indicated by either X-ray crystallography (underlined amino acids) or by Kabat sequence comparison (amino acids denoted with asterisk). Useful cloning sites are in italics. The signal peptide of STII is amino acids -23 to -1. The murine variable heavy region is amino acids 1 to 122. The partial murine constant heavy region is amino acids 123 to 135.

FIG. 26 depicts the DNA sequences (SEQ ID NOS: 38-40) of primers to convert the murine light chain and heavy chain constant regions to their human equivalents.

FIGS. 27A-27B depict the DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO: 41) and the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 42) for the chimeric 6G4.2.5 light chain. CDRs are indicated by either X-ray crystallography (underlined amino acids) or by Kabat sequence comparison (amino acids denoted with asterisk). The human constant region is denoted in italics. The signal peptide of STII is amino acids -23 to -1. The murine variable heavy region is amino acids 1 to 114. The human constant heavy region is amino acids 115 to 220.

FIGS. 28A-28B depict the DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO: 43) and the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 44) for the chimeric 6G4.2.5 heavy chain. CDRs are indicated by either X-ray crystallography (underlined amino acids) or by Kabat sequence comparison (amino acids denoted with asterisk). The human constant region is denoted in italics. The signal peptide of STII is amino acids -23 to -1. The murine variable heavy region is amino acids 1 to 122. The human constant heavy region is amino acids 123 to 231.

FIG. 29 depicts an amino acid sequence of murine 6G425 light chain variable domain (SEQ ID NO: 45), humanized 6G425 F(ab)-1 light chain variable domain (SEQ ID NO: 46), and human light chain κI consensus framework (SEQ ID NO: 47) amino acid sequences, and an amino acid sequence alignment of murine 6G425 heavy chain variable domain (SEQ ID NO: 48), humanized 6G425 F(ab)-1 heavy chain variable domain (SEQ ID NO: 49), and human IgG1 subgroup III heavy chain variable domain (SEQ ID NO: 50) amino acid sequences, used in the humanization of 6G425. Light chain CDRs are labeled L1, L2, L3; heavy chain CDRs are labeled H1, H2, and H3. = and + indicate CDR sequences as defined by X-ray crystallographic contacts and sequence hypervariability, respectively. # indicates a difference between the aligned sequences. Residue numbering is according to Kabat et al. Lower case lettering denotes the insertion of an amino acid residue relative to the humIII consensus sequence numbering.

FIGS. 30A, 30B and 30C are graphs depicting the ability of F(ab)-9 (humanized 6G4V11 Fab) to inhibit human wild type IL-8, human monomeric IL-8, and rhesus IL-8 mediated neutrophil chemotaxis, respectively. FIG. 30A presents inhibition data for F(ab)-9 samples at concentrations of 0.06 nM, 6.25 nM, 12.5 nM, 25 nM, 50 nM, and 100 nM, for an isotype control antibody (denoted "4D5") sample at a concentration of 100 nM, and for a no antibody control sample, in the presence of 2nM human wild type IL-8. FIG. 30B presents inhibition data for F(ab)-9 samples at concentrations of 6.25 nM, 12.5 nM, 25 nM, and 50 nM, for an isotype control antibody (denoted "4D5") sample at a concentration of 100 nM, and for a no antibody control sample, in the presence of 4 nM human monomeric IL-8 (denoted as "BD59" and as "monomeric IL-8"). FIG. 30C presents inhibition data for F(ab)-9 samples at concentrations of 1 nM, 12.5 nM, 25 nM, and 50 nM, for an isotype control antibody (denoted "4D5") sample at a concentration of 100 nM, and for a no antibody control sample, in the presence of 2 nM rhesus IL-8. In addition, all panels FIGS. 30A, 30B and 30C each presents data for a no IL-8 buffer control sample (denoted as "Buffer") in the respective inhibition assay.

FIG. 31A depicts the amino acid sequences of the humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5V11 light chain variable domain in an N-terminal fusion with the STII leader peptide (SEQ ID NO: 51), the humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5V11 heavy chain variable domain in an N-terminal fusion with the STII leader peptide (SEQ ID NO: 52), and a peptide linker in a C-terminal fusion with M13 phage gene-III coat protein (SEQ ID NO: 53).

FIG. 31B depicts the nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 54) and the translated amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 51) of the humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5V11 light chain variable domain in an N-terminal fusion with the STII leader peptide.

FIG. 31C depicts the amino acid sequences of the humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5V19 light chain variable domain in an N-terminal fusion with the STII leader peptide (SEQ ID NO: 51), and the humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5V19 heavy chain variable domain in an N-terminal fusion with the STII leader peptide (SEQ ID NO: 55).

FIG. 32 is a three dimensional computer model of the humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5V11 antibody. Heavy chain CDR loops and variable domain regions appear in purple, and CDR-H3 side chain residues appear in yellow. Heavy chain constant domain regions appear in red. Light chain CDR loops and variable domain regions appear in off-white, and the Asn residue at amino acid position 35 (N35) in CDR L1 appears in green. Light chain constant domain regions appear in amber.

FIG. 33 is a Scatchard plot depicting the inhibition of ¹²⁵ I-IL-8 binding to human neutrophils exhibited by intact murine 6G4.2.5 antibody (denoted 6G4 murine mAb), 6G4.2.5 murine-human chimera Fab (denoted 6G4 chimera), humanized 6G4.2.5 Fab versions 1 and 11 (denoted V1 and V11), and variant 6G4.2.5V1 IN35A Fab (denoted V11N35A).

FIGS. 34A, 34B, 34C and 34D are graphs depicting the ability of 6G4.2.5V11N35A Fab to inhibit human wild type IL-8, human monomeric IL-8, rabbit IL-8, and rhesus IL-8 mediated neutrophil chemotaxis, respectively. FIG. 34A presents inhibition data for 6G4.2.5V11N35A Fab samples at concentrations of 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 33 nM, for an isotype control antibody (denoted "4D5") sample at a concentration of 33 nM, and for a no antibody control (denoted "HuIL-8") sample, in the presence of 2 nM human wild type IL-8. FIG. 34B presents inhibition data for 6G4.2.5V11N35A Fab samples at concentrations of 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 33 nM, for an intact 6G4.2.5 mAb sample at a concentration of 33 nM, for an isotype control antibody (denoted as "4D5") sample at a concentration of 33 nM, and for a no antibody control (denoted "BD59") sample, in the presence of 2 nM human monomeric IL-8. FIG. 34C presents inhibition data for 6G4.2.5V11N35A Fab samples at concentrations of 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 33 nM, for an intact 6G4.2.5 mAb sample at a concentration of 33 nM, for an isotype control antibody (denoted "4D5") sample at a concentration of 33 nM, and for a no antibody control (denoted "Rab IL-8") sample, in the presence of 2 nM rabbit IL-8. Panel D presents inhibition data for 6G4.2.5V11N35A Fab samples at concentrations of 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 33 nM, for an intact 6G4.2.5 mAb sample at a concentration of 33 nM, for an isotype control antibody (denoted as "4D5") sample at a concentration of 33 nM, and for a no antibody control (denoted "Rhe IL-8") sample, in the presence of 2 nM rhesus IL-8. In addition, panels B, C and D each presents data for human wild type IL-8 control (denoted "HuIL-8") samples at a concentration of 2 nM in the respective assay, and FIGS. 34A, 34B, 34C and 34D each presents data for a no IL-8 buffer control (denoted "Buffer") sample in the respective assay.

FIG. 35 depicts the amino acid sequences of the humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5V11N35A light chain variable domain in an N-terminal fusion with the STII leader peptide (SEQ ID NO: 56), the humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5V11N35A heavy chain variable domain in an N-terminal fusion with the STII leader peptide (SEQ ID NO: 52), and the GCN4 leucine zipper peptide (SEQ ID NO: 57). The Ala residue (substituted for the wild type Asn residue) at amino acid position 35 in the 6G4.2.5V11N35A light chain appears in bold case. A putative pepsin cleavage site in the GCN4 leucine zipper sequence is underlined.

FIG. 36 depicts the DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO: 58) and the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:56) of the humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5V11N35A light chain variable domain in an N-terminal fusion with the STII leader peptide. Complementarity determining regions L1, L2, and L3 are underlined.

FIGS. 37A-37B depict the DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO: 59) and the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 60) of the humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5V11N35A heavy chain variable domain in an N-terminal fusion with the STII leader peptide and in a C-terminal fusion with the GCN4 leucine zipper sequence. Complementarity determining regions H1, H2, and H3 are underlined.

FIG. 38 is a Scatchard plot depicting the inhibition of ¹²⁵ I-IL-8 binding to human neutrophils exhibited by 6G4.2.5V11N35A Fab (denoted Fab), 6G4.2.5V11N35A F(ab')₂ (denoted F(ab')₂), and human wild type IL-8 control (denoted IL-8).

FIG. 39 is a graph depicting a comparison of the wild type human IL-8 mediated neutrophil chemotaxis inhibition activities of the 6G4.2.5V11N35A F(ab')₂ and 6G4.2.5V11N35A Fab. Inhibition data are presented for 6G4.2.5V11N35A Fab samples (denoted "N35A Fab") and 6G4.2.5V11N35A F(ab')₂ samples (denoted N35A F(ab')₂) at concentrations of 0.3, 1, 3, 10, 30, and 100 nM, for an isotype control antibody (denoted as "4D5") sample at a concentration of 100 nM, and for a no antibody control sample, in the presence of 2 nM human wild type IL-8. In addition, inhibition data are presented for no IL-8 buffer control samples (denoted "Buffer").

FIG. 40 is a graph depicting the ability of 6G4.2.5V11N35A F(ab')₂ to inhibit human monomeric IL-8, rhesus IL-8, and rabbit IL-8 mediated neutrophil chemotaxis. Human monomeric IL-8 mediated neutrophil chemotaxis data are presented for 6G4.2.5V11N35A F(ab')₂ samples at concentrations of 0.3, 1, 3, and 10 nM, for an isotype control antibody (denoted as "4D5") sample at a concentration of 100 nM, and for a no antibody control sample (denoted as "BD59"), in the presence of human monomeric IL-8 (denoted as "BD59") at a concentration of 0.5 nM. Rhesus IL-8 mediated neutrophil chemotaxis data are presented for 6G4.2.5V11N35A F(ab')₂ samples at concentrations of 0.3, 1, 3, and 10 nM, and for a no antibody control sample, in the presence of rhesus IL-8 at a concentration of 2 nM. Rabbit IL-8 mediated neutrophil chemotaxis data are presented for 6G4.2.5V11N35A F(ab')₂ samples at concentrations of 0.3, 1, 3, and 10 nM, and for a no antibody control sample, in the presence of rabbit IL-8 at a concentration of 2 nM. In addition, inhibition data are presented for a no IL-8 buffer control sample (denoted as "Buffer") and for a 2 nM human wild type IL-8 (denoted as "HuIL-8").

FIGS. 41A-41V depict the nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 61) of the p6G4V11N35A.F(ab')₂ vector.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

I. Definitions

In general, the following words or phrases have the indicated definition when used in the description, examples, and claims.

"Polymerase chain reaction" or "PCR" refers to a procedure or technique in which minute amounts of a specific piece of nucleic acid, RNA and/or DNA, are amplified as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,195 issued Jul. 28, 1987. Generally, sequence information from the ends of the region of interest or beyond needs to be available, such that oligonucleotide primers can be designed; these primers will be identical or similar in sequence to opposite strands of the template to be amplified. The 5' terminal nucleotides of the two primers can coincide with the ends of the amplified material. PCR can be used to amplify specific RNA sequences, specific DNA sequences from total genomic DNA, and cDNA transcribed from total cellular RNA, bacteriophage or plasmid sequences, etc. See generally Mullis et al., Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. 51:263 (1987); Erlich, ed., PCR Technology (Stockton Press, New York, 1989). As used herein, PCR is considered to be one, but not the only, example of a nucleic acid polymerase reaction method for amplifying a nucleic acid test sample comprising the use of a known nucleic acid as a primer and a nucleic acid polymerase to amplify or generate a specific piece of nucleic acid.

"Antibodies" (Abs) and "immunoglobulins" (Igs) are glycoproteins having the same structural characteristics. While antibodies exhibit binding specificity to a specific antigen, immunoglobulins include both antibodies and other antibody-like molecules which lack antigen specificity. Polypeptides of the latter kind are, for example, produced at low levels by the lymph system and at increased levels by myelomas.

"Native antibodies and immunoglobulins" are usually heterotetrameric glycoproteins of about 150,000 daltons, composed of two identical light (L) chains and two identical heavy (H) chains. Each light chain is linked to a heavy chain by one covalent disulfide bond, while the number of disulfide linkages varies between the heavy chains of different immunoglobulin isotypes. Each heavy and light chain also has regularly spaced intrachain disulfide bridges. Each heavy chain has at one end a variable domain (V_(H)) followed by a number of constant domains. Each light chain has a variable domain at one end (V_(L)) and a constant domain at its other end; the constant domain of the light chain is aligned with the first constant domain of the heavy chain, and the light chain variable domain is aligned with the variable domain of the heavy chain. Particular amino acid residues are believed to form an interface between the light- and heavy-chain variable domains (Clothia et al., J. Mol. Biol. 186:651 (1985); Novotny and Haber, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 82:4592 (1985)).

The term "variable" refers to the fact that certain portions of the variable domains differ extensively in sequence among antibodies and are used in the binding and specificity of each particular antibody for its particular antigen. However, the variability is not evenly distributed throughout the variable domains of antibodies. It is concentrated in three segments called complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) or hypervariable regions both in the light-chain and the heavy-chain variable domains. The more highly conserved portions of variable domains are called the framework (FR). The variable domains of native heavy and light chains each comprise four FR regions, largely adopting a β-sheet configuration, connected by three CDRs, which form loops connecting, and in some cases forming part of, the β-sheet structure. The CDRs in each chain are held together in close proximity by the FR regions and, with the CDRs from the other chain, contribute to the formation of the antigen-binding site of antibodies (see Kabat et al., Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, Fifth Edition, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Md. (1991)). The constant domains are not involved directly in binding an antibody to an antigen, but exhibit various effector functions, such as participation of the antibody in antibody-dependent cellular toxicity.

Papain digestion of antibodies produces two identical antigen-binding fragments, called "Fab" fragments, each with a single antigen-binding site, and a residual "Fc" fragment, whose name reflects its ability to crystallize readily. Pepsin treatment yields an F(ab')₂ fragment that has two antigen-combining sites and is still capable of cross-linking antigen.

"Fv" is the minimum antibody fragment which contains a complete antigen-recognition and -binding site. In a two-chain Fv species, this region consists of a dimer of one heavy- and one light-chain variable domain in tight, non-covalent association. In a single-chain Fv species (scFv), one heavy- and one light-chain variable domain can be covalently linked by a flexible peptide linker such that the light and heavy chains can associate in a "dimeric" structure analogous to that in a two-chain Fv species. It is in this configuration that the three CDRs of each variable domain interact to define an antigen-binding site on the surface of the VH-VL dimer. Collectively, the six CDRs confer antigen-binding specificity to the antibody. However, even a single variable domain (or half of an Fv comprising only three CDRs specific for an antigen) has the ability to recognize and bind antigen, although at a lower affinity than the entire binding site. For a review of scFv see Pluckthun, in The Pharmacology of Monoclonal Antibodies, vol. 113, Rosenburg and Moore eds., Springer-Verlag, New York, pp. 269-315 (1994).

The Fab fragment also contains the constant domain of the light chain and the first constant domain (CH1) of the heavy chain. Fab' fragments differ from Fab fragments by the addition of a few residues at the carboxy terminus of the heavy chain CH1 domain including one or more cysteines from the antibody hinge region. Fab'-SH is the designation herein for Fab' in which the cysteine residue(s) of the constant domains bear a free thiol group. F(ab')₂ antibody fragments originally were produced as pairs of Fab' fragments which have hinge cysteines between them. Other chemical couplings of antibody fragments are also known.

The "light chains" of antibodies (immunoglobulins) from any vertebrate species can be assigned to one of two clearly distinct types, called kappa (k) and lambda (l), based on the amino acid sequences of their constant domains.

Depending on the amino acid sequence of the constant domain of their heavy chains, immunoglobulins can be assigned to different classes. There are five major classes of immunoglobulins: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM, and several of these can be further divided into subclasses (isotypes), e.g., IgG₁, IgG₂, IgG₃, IgG₄, IgA₁, and IgA₂. The heavy-chain constant domains that correspond to the different classes of immunoglobulins are called α, δ, ε, γ, and μ, respectively. The subunit structures and three-dimensional configurations of different classes of immunoglobulins are well known.

The term "antibody" is used in the broadest sense and specifically covers single monoclonal antibodies (including agonist and antagonist antibodies) and antibody compositions with polyepitopic specificity.

"Antibody fragments" comprise a portion of an intact antibody, generally the antigen binding site or variable region of the intact antibody. Examples of antibody fragments include Fab, Fab', Fab'-SH, F(ab')₂, and Fv fragments; diabodies; any antibody fragment that is a polypeptide having a primary structure consisting of one uninterrupted sequence of contiguous amino acid residues (referred to herein as a "single-chain antibody fragment" or "single chain polypeptide"), including without limitation (1) single-chain Fv (scFv) molecules (2) single chain polypeptides containing only one light chain variable domain, or a fragment thereof that contains the three CDRs of the light chain variable domain, without an associated heavy chain moiety and (3) single chain polypeptides containing only one heavy chain variable region, or a fragment thereof containing the three CDRs of the heavy chain variable region, without an associated light chain moiety; and multispecific antibodies formed from antibody fragments.

The term "monoclonal antibody" (mAb) as used herein refers to an antibody obtained from a population of substantially homogeneous antibodies, i.e., the individual antibodies comprising the population are identical except for possible naturally occurring mutations that may be present in minor amounts. Monoclonal antibodies are highly specific, being directed against a single antigenic site. Furthermore, in contrast to conventional (polyclonal) antibody preparations which typically include different antibodies directed against different determinants (epitopes), each mAb is directed against a single determinant on the antigen. In addition to their specificity, the monoclonal antibodies are advantageous in that they can be synthesized by hybridoma culture, uncontaminated by other immunoglobulins. The modifier "monoclonal" indicates the character of the antibody as being obtained from a substantially homogeneous population of antibodies, and is not to be construed as requiring production of the antibody by any particular method. For example, the monoclonal antibodies to be used in accordance with the present invention may be made by the hybridoma method first described by Kohler et al., Nature, 256:495 (1975), or may be made by recombinant DNA methods (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567 to Cabilly et al.). The "monoclonal antibodies" also include clones of antigen-recognition and binding-site containing antibody fragments (Fv clones) isolated from phage antibody libraries using the techniques described in Clackson et al., Nature, 352:624-628 (1991) and Marks et al., J. Mol. Biol., 222:581-597 (1991), for example.

The monoclonal antibodies herein include hybrid and recombinant antibodies produced by splicing a variable (including hypervariable) domain of an anti-IL-8 antibody with a constant domain (e.g. "humanized" antibodies), or a light chain with a heavy chain, or a chain from one species with a chain from another species, or fusions with heterologous proteins, regardless of species of origin or immunoglobulin class or subclass designation, as well as antibody fragments (e.g., Fab, F(ab')₂, and Fv), so long as they exhibit the desired biological activity. (See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567 to Cabilly et al.; Mage and Lamoyi, in Monoclonal Antibody Production Techniques and Applications, pp. 79-97 (Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1987).)

The monoclonal antibodies herein specifically include "chimeric" antibodies (immunoglobulins) in which a portion of the heavy and/or light chain is identical with or homologous to corresponding sequences in antibodies derived from a particular species or belonging to a particular antibody class or subclass, while the remainder of the chain(s) is identical with or homologous to corresponding sequences in antibodies derived from another species or belonging to another antibody class or subclass, as well as fragments of such antibodies, so long as they exhibit the desired biological activity (Cabilly et al., supra; Morrison et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 81:6851 (1984)).

"Humanized" forms of non-human (e.g., murine) antibodies are specific chimeric immunoglobulins, immunoglobulin chains or fragments thereof (such as Fv, Fab, Fab', F(ab')₂, or other antigen-binding subsequences of antibodies) which contain minimal sequence derived from non-human immunoglobulin. For the most part, humanized antibodies are human immunoglobulins (recipient antibody) in which residues from a complementary-determining region (CDR) of the recipient are replaced by residues from a CDR of a non-human species (donor antibody) such as mouse, rat, or rabbit having the desired specificity, affinity, and capacity. In some instances, Fv framework residues of the human immunoglobulin are replaced by corresponding non-human residues. Furthermore, humanized antibodies can comprise residues which are found neither in the recipient antibody nor in the imported CDR or framework sequences. These modifications are made to further refine and maximize antibody performance. In general, the humanized antibody will comprise substantially all of at least one, and typically two, variable domains, in which all or substantially all of the CDR regions correspond to those of a non-human immunoglobulin and all or substantially all of the FR regions are those of a human immunoglobulin consensus sequence. The humanized antibody optimally also will comprise at least a portion of an immunoglobulin constant region (Fc), typically that of a human immunoglobulin. For further details see Jones et al., Nature 321:522 (1986); Reichmann et al., Nature 332:323 (1988); and Presta, Curr. Op. Struct. Biol. 2:593 (1992).

"Treatment" refers to both therapeutic treatment and prophylactic or preventative measures. Those in need of treatment include those already with the disorder as well as those prone to have the disorder or those in which the disorder is to be prevented.

"Mammal" for purposes of treatment refers to any animal classified as a mammal, including humans, domestic and farm animals, and zoo, sports, or pet animals, such as dogs, horses, cats, cows, etc. Preferably, the mammal herein is human.

As used herein, protein, peptide and polypeptide are used interchangeably to denote an amino acid polymer or a set of two or more interacting or bound amino acid polymers.

As used herein, the term "inflammatory disorders" refers to pathological states resulting in inflammation, typically caused by neutrophil chemotaxis. Examples of such disorders include inflammatory skin diseases including psoriasis; responses associated with inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis); ischemic reperfusion; adult respiratory distress syndrome; dermatitis; meningitis; encephalitis; uveitis; autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjorgen's syndrome, vasculitis; diseases involving leukocyte diapedesis; central nervous system (CNS) inflammatory disorder, multiple organ injury syndrome secondary to septicaemia or trauma; alcoholic hepatitis, bacterial pneumonia, antigen-antibody complex mediated diseases; inflammations of the lung, including pleurisy, alveolitis, vasculitis, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, and cystic fibrosis; etc. The preferred indications are bacterial pneumonia and inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis.

II. Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

The present invention arises from the humanization of the 6G4.2.5 murine anti-rabbit IL-8 monoclonal antibody ("6G4.2.5") described in WO 95/23865 (PCT/US95/02589 published Sep. 8, 1995), the entire disclosure of which is specifically incorporated herein by reference. The hybridoma producing antibody 6G4.2.5 was deposited on Sep. 28, 1994 with the American Type Culture Collection and assigned ATCC Accession No. HB 11722 as described in the Examples below. In one aspect, the invention provides a humanized derivative of the 6G4.2.5 antibody, variant 11 (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5v11"), in which the murine CDRs of 6G4.2.5 are grafted onto a consensus framework for human light chain κI and human IgG1 heavy chain subgroup III, followed by importing three framework residues from the murine 6G4.2.5 parent heavy chain variable domain sequence into analogous sites in the heavy chain variable domain of the human template sequence, as described in the Examples below. In another aspect, the invention provides variants of the 6G4.2.5v11 antibody with certain amino acid substitution(s) yielding increased affinity for human IL-8 and/or promoting greater efficiency in recombinant manufacturing processes.

1. Humanized 6G4.2.5 Monoclonal Antibodies and Antibody Fragments

In one embodiment, the invention provides an antibody fragment or full length antibody comprising a heavy chain variable domain comprising the amino acid sequence of amino acids 1-230 (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5HV11") of the humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5v11 heavy chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIGS. 37A-37B (SEQ ID NO: 60).

The invention encompasses a single chain antibody fragment comprising the 6G4.2.5HV11, with or without any additional amino acid sequence. In one embodiment, the invention provides a single chain antibody fragment comprising the 6G4.2.5HV11 without any associated light chain variable domain amino acid sequence, i.e. a single chain species that makes up one half of an Fv fragment.

Further provided herein are an antibody or antibody fragment comprising the 6G4.2.5HV11, and further comprising a light chain variable domain comprising the amino acid sequence of amino acids 1-219 (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV11") of the humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5v11 light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIG. 31B (SEQ ID NO: 51).

In one embodiment, the invention provides a single chain antibody fragment wherein the 6G4.2.5HV11 and the 6G4.2.5LV11 are contained in a single chain polypeptide species. In a preferred embodiment, the single chain antibody fragment is a scFv species comprising the 6G4.2.5HV11 joined to the 6G4.2.5LV11 by means of a flexible peptide linker sequence, wherein the heavy chain and light chain variable domains can associate in a "dimeric" structure analogous to that formed in a two-chain Fv species. In another embodiment, the single chain antibody fragment is a species comprising the 6G4.2.5HV11 joined to the 6G4.2.5LV11 by a linker that is too short to permit intramolecular pairing of the two variable domains, i.e. a single chain polypeptide monomer that forms a diabody upon dimerization with another monomer.

In yet another embodiment, the invention provides an antibody fragment comprising a plurality of polypeptide chains, wherein one polypeptide chain comprises the 6G4.2.5HV11 and a second polypeptide chain comprises the 6G4.2.5LV11 and the two polypeptide chains are covalently linked by one or more interchain disulfide bonds. In a preferred embodiment, the foregoing two-chain antibody fragment is selected from the group consisting of Fab, Fab', Fab'-SH, Fv, and F(ab')₂.

The invention also provides an antibody or antibody fragment comprising a heavy chain variable domain containing the 6G4.2.5HV11 and optionally further comprising a light chain variable domain containing the 6G4.2.5LV11, wherein the heavy chain variable domain, and optionally the light chain variable domain, is (are) fused to an additional moiety, such as a immunoglobulin constant domain. Constant domain sequence can be added to the heavy chain and/or light chain sequence(s) to form species with full or partial length heavy and/or light chain(s). It will be appreciated that constant regions of any isotype can be used for this purpose, including IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE constant regions, and that such constant regions can be obtained from any human or animal species. Preferably, the constant domain sequence is human in origin. Suitable human constant domain sequences can be obtained from Kabat et al. (supra).

In a preferred embodiment, the antibody or antibody fragment comprises the 6G4.2.5HV11 in a heavy chain variable domain that is fused to a heavy chain constant domain containing a leucine zipper sequence. The leucine zipper can increase the affinity and/or production efficiency of the antibody or antibody fragment of interest. Suitable leucine zipper sequences include the jun and fos leucine zippers taught by Kostelney et al., J. Immunol., 148: 1547-1553 (1992) and the GCN4 leucine zipper described in the Examples below. In a preferred embodiment, the antibody or antibody fragment comprises the 6G4.2.5HV11 fused at its C-terminus to the GCN4 leucine zipper to yield the amino acid sequence of amino acids 1-275 (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5HV11GCN4") of the heavy chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIGS. 37A-37B (SEQ ID NO: 60).

2. Variants of Humanized 6G4.2.5 Monoclonal Antibodies and Antibody Fragments

The invention additionally encompasses humanized anti-IL-8 monoclonal antibody and antibody fragments comprising variants of the 6G4.2.5 complementarity determining regions (CDRs) or variants of the 6G4.2.5v11 variable domains which exhibit higher affinity for human IL-8 and/or possess properties that yield greater efficiency in recombinant production processes.

A. 6G4.2.5LV Variants

In one aspect, the invention provides humanized anti-IL-8 monoclonal antibodies and antibody fragments comprising the complementarity determining regions (referred to herein as the "CDRs of 6G4.2.5LV") L1, L2, and L3 of the 6G4.2.5 light chain variable domain amino acid sequence of FIG. 24, wherein L1 corresponds to amino acids 24-39 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24, L2 corresponds to amino acids 55-61 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35), and L3 corresponds to amino acids 94-102 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35).

In addition, the invention provides a variant 6G4.2.5 humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a humanized light chain variable domain comprising a variant (hereinafter referred to a "6G4.2.5LV CDRs variant") of the complementarity determining regions L1, L2, and L3 of the 6G4.2.5 variable light chain domain amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35). In one embodiment, the invention provides a variant 6G4.2.5 humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a 6G4.2.5LV CDRs variant (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV/L1N35X₃₅ ") wherein L1 corresponds to amino acids 24-39 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Asn (denoted as "X₃₅ ") is substituted for Asn at amino acid position 35, L2 corresponds to amino acids 55-61 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35), and L3 corresponds to amino acids 94-102 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35). In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a variant 6G4.2.5 humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a 6G4.2.5LV CDRs variant (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A") wherein L1 corresponds to amino acids 24-39 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Asn at amino acid position 35, L2 corresponds to amino acids 55-61 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35), and L3 corresponds to amino acids 94-102 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35).

In a second aspect, the invention provides a variant 6G4.2.5 humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a 6G4.2.5LV CDRs variant (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV/L1S26X₂₆ ") wherein L1 corresponds to amino acids 24-39 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "X₂₆ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 26, L2 corresponds to amino acids 55-61 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35), and L3 corresponds to amino acids 94-102 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35). In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a variant 6G4.2.5 humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a 6G4.2.5LV CDRs variant (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV/L1S26A") wherein L1 corresponds to amino acids 24-39 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 26, L2 corresponds to amino acids 55-61 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35), and L3 corresponds to amino acids 94-102 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35).

In a third aspect, the invention provides a variant 6G4.2.5 humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a 6G4.2.5LV CDRs variant (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV/L3H98X₉ ") wherein L1 corresponds to amino acids 24-39 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35), L2 corresponds to amino acids 55-61 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35), and L3 corresponds to amino acids 94-102 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35) with the proviso that any amino acid other than His (denoted as "X₉₈ ") is substituted for His at amino acid position 98. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a variant 6G4.2.5 humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a 6G4.2.5LV CDRs variant (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV/L3H98A") wherein L1 corresponds to amino acids 24-39 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35), L2 corresponds to amino acids 55-61 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35), and L3 corresponds to amino acids 94-102 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for His at amino acid position 98.

In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a variant 6G4.2.5 humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a 6G4.2.5LV CDRs variant (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV/L1S26X₂₆,N35X₃₅ ") wherein L1 corresponds to amino acids 24-39 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "X₂₆ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 26 and any amino acid other than Asn (denoted as "X₃₅ ") is substituted for Asn at amino acid position 35, L2 corresponds to amino acids 55-61 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35), and L3 corresponds to amino acids 94-102 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35). In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a variant 6G4.2.5 humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a 6G4.2.5LV CDRs variant (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV/L1S26A,N35A") wherein L1 corresponds to amino acids 24-39 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 26 and Ala is substituted for Asn at amino acid position 35, L2 corresponds to amino acids 55-61 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35), and L3 corresponds to amino acids 94-102 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35).

In a fifth aspect, the invention provides a variant 6G4.2.5 humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a 6G4.2.5LV CDRs variant (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV/L1N35X₃₅ /L3H98X₉₈ ") wherein L1 corresponds to amino acids 24-39 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Asn (denoted as "X₃₅ ") is substituted for Asn at amino acid position 35, L2 corresponds to amino acids 55-61 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35), and L3 corresponds to amino acids 94-102 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35) with the proviso that any amino acid other than His (denoted as "X₉₈ ") is substituted for His at amino acid position 98. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a variant 6G4.2.5 humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a 6G4.2.5LV CDRs variant (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A/L3H98A") wherein L1 corresponds to amino acids 24-39 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Asn at amino acid position 35, L2 corresponds to amino acids 55-61 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35), and L3 corresponds to amino acids 94-102 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for His at amino acid position 98.

In a sixth aspect, the invention provides a variant 6G4.2.5 humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a 6G4.2.5LV CDRs variant (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV/L IS26X₂₆ /L3H98X₉₈ ") wherein L1 corresponds to amino acids 24-39 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "X₂₆ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 26, L2 corresponds to amino acids 55-61 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35), and L3 corresponds to amino acids 94-102 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35) with the proviso that any amino acid other than His (denoted as "X98") is substituted for His at amino acid position 98. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a variant 6G4.2.5 humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a 6G4.2.5LV CDRs variant (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV/L1S26A/L3H98A") wherein L1 corresponds to amino acids 24-39 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 26, L2 corresponds to amino acids 55-61 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35), and L3 corresponds to amino acids 94-102 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for His at amino acid position 98.

In a seventh aspect, the invention provides a variant 6G4.2.5 humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a 6G4.2.5LV CDRs variant (here referred to as "6G4.2.5LV/L1S26X₂₆,N35X₃₅ /L3H98X₉₈ ") wherein L1 corresponds to amino acids 24-39 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "X₂₆ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 26 and any amino acid other than Asn (denoted as "X₃₅ ") is substituted for Asn at amino acid position 35, L2 corresponds to amino acids 55-61 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35), and L3 corresponds to amino acids 94-102 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35) with the proviso that any amino acid other than His (denoted as "X₉₈ ") is substituted for His at amino acid position 98. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a variant 6G4.2.5 humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a 6G4.2.5LV CDRs variant (here referred to as "6G4.2.5LV/L1S26A,N35A/L3H98A") wherein L1 corresponds to amino acids 24-39 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 26 and Ala is substituted for Asn at amino acid position 35, L2 corresponds to amino acids 55-61 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35), and L3 corresponds to amino acids 94-102 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for His at amino acid position 98.

The humanized light chain variable domains of the invention can be constructed by using any of the techniques for antibody humanization known in the art. Humanization can be essentially performed following the method of Winter and co-workers (Jones et al., Nature 321:522(1986); Riechmann et al., Nature 332:323(1988); Verhoeyen et al., Science 239:1534 (1988)), by substituting the CDRs of 6G4.2.5LV or the CDRs of a 6G4.2.5LV CDRs variant for the corresponding sequences of a human antibody light chain variable domain. Accordingly, such "humanized" derivatives containing the CDRs of 6G4.2.5LV or the CDRs of a 6G4.2.5VL CDRs variant are chimeric (Cabilly et al., supra). The humanized light chain variable domain comprising the CDRs of 6G4.2.5LV or the CDRs of a 6G4.2.5LV CDRs variant can also contain some FR residues that are substituted by residues from analogous sites in the murine 6G4.2.5 antibody light chain variable domain ("6G4.2.5LV"). The complete amino acid sequence of 6G4.2.5LV is set out as amino acids 1-114 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO: 35).

The invention further provides a humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a humanized light chain variable domain comprising the CDRs of 6G4.2.5LV or the CDRs of a 6G4.2.5LV CDRs variant as described above, and further comprising a humanized heavy chain variable domain comprising the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) H1, H2, and H3 of the 6G4.2.5 (murine monoclonal antibody) variable heavy chain domain amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), wherein H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), wherein H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), and wherein H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37). The above-described H1, H2, and H3 CDRs of the 6G4.2.5 heavy chain variable domain ("6G4.2.5HV") are collectively referred to as the "CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV".

In another embodiment, the invention provides a humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a humanized light chain variable domain comprising the CDRs of 6G4.2.5LV or the CDRs of a 6G4.2.5LV CDRs variant as described above, and further comprising a humanized heavy chain variable domain comprising a variant (herein referred to as a "6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant") of the H1, H2, and H3 CDRs of the 6G4.2.5 (murine monoclonal antibody) variable heavy chain domain amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37). In one 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ "), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₃₁ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37). In a preferred 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37).

In a second 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ "), H1 corresponds to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₅₄ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37). In a preferred 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A"), H1 corresponds to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37 with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37).

In a third 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H3D100E"), wherein H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), wherein H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), and wherein H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100.

In a fourth 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H3R102K"), wherein H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), wherein H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), and wherein H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102.

In a fifth 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H3D106E"), wherein H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), wherein H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), and wherein H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106.

In a seventh 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H3D100E,R102K"), wherein H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), wherein H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), and wherein H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100 and Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102.

In an eighth 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H3R102K,D106E"), wherein H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), wherein H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), and wherein H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102 and Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106.

In a ninth 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H3D100E,D106E"), wherein H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), wherein H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), and wherein H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100 and Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106.

In a tenth 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H3D100E,R102K,D106E"), wherein H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), wherein H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), and wherein H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100, Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102, and Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106.

In an eleventh 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ "), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₃₁ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₅₄ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37). In a preferred 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37).

In a twelfth 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3D100E"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₃₁ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100. In a preferred 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3D100E"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100.

In a thirteenth 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3R102K"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₃₁ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102. In a preferred 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3R102K"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102.

A fourteenth 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3D106E"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₃₁ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106. In a preferred 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3D106E"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106.

A fifteenth 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3D100E,R102K"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₃₁ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100 and Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102. In a preferred 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3D100E,R102K"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-1 11 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100 and Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102.

In a sixteenth 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3R102K,D106E"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₃₁ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102 and Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106. In a preferred 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3R102K,D106E"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102 and Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106.

In a seventeenth 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3D100E,D106E"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₃₁ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100 and Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106. In a preferred 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3D100E,D106E"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100 and Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106.

In an eighteenth 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3D100E,R102K,D106E"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₃₁ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100, Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102 and Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106. In a preferred 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3D100E,R102K,D106E"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100, Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102 and Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106.

In a nineteenth 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E"), H1 corresponds to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₅₄ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100. In a preferred 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A/H3D100E"), H1 corresponds to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100.

In a twentieth 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ /H3R102K"), H1 corresponds to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₅₄ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102. In a preferred 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A/H3R102K"), H1 corresponds to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102.

In a twenty-first 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D106E"), H1 corresponds to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₅₄ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106. In a preferred 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A/H3D106E"), H1 corresponds to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106.

In a twenty-second 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D1E,R102K"), H1 corresponds to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₅₄ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100 and Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102. In a preferred 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A/H3D100E,R102K"), H1 corresponds to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100 and Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102.

In a twenty-third 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ /H3R102K,D106E"), H1 corresponds to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₅₄ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102 and Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106. In a preferred 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A/H3R102K,D106E"), H1 corresponds to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102 and Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106.

In a twenty-fourth 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E,D106E"), H1 corresponds to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₅₄ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100 and Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106. In a preferred 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A/H3D100E,D106E"), H1 corresponds to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100 and Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106.

In a twenty-fifth 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E,R102K,D106E"), H1 corresponds to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₅₄ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100, Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102 and Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106. In a preferred 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A/H3D100E,R102K,D106E"), H1 corresponds to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37), H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100, Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102 and Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106.

In a twenty-sixth 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₃₁ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₅₄ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100. In a preferred 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3D100E"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100.

In a twenty-seventh 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3R102K"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₃₁ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₅₄ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102. In a preferred 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3R102K"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102.

In a twenty-eighth 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D106E"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₃₁ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₅₄ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106. In a preferred 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3D106E"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106.

In a twenty-ninth 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E,R102K"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₃₁ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₅₄ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100 and Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102. In a preferred 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3D100E,R102K"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100 and Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102.

In a thirtieth 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3R102K,D106E"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₃₁ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₅₄ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102 and Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106. In a preferred 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3R102K,D106E"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102 and Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106.

In a thirty-first 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E,D106E"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₃₁ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₅₄ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100 and Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106. In a preferred 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3D100E,D106E"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100 and Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106.

In a thirty-second 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E,R102K,D106E"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₃₁ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "Z₅₄ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100, Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102 and Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106. In a preferred 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant (referred to herein as "6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3D100E,R102K,D106E"), H1 correspond to amino acids 26-35 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31, H2 corresponds to amino acids 50-66 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54, and H3 corresponds to amino acids 99-111 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37) with the proviso that Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 100, Lys is substituted for Arg at amino acid position 102 and Glu is substituted for Asp at amino acid position 106.

As in the humanization of the light chain variable domain described above, a humanized heavy chain variable domain is constructed by substituting the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV or the CDRs of a 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant for the corresponding sequences in a human heavy chain variable domain. The humanized heavy chain variable domain comprising the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV or the CDRs of a 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant can also contain some FR residues that are substituted by residues from analogous sites in the murine 6G4.2.5 antibody heavy chain variable domain. The complete amino acid sequence of 6G4.2.5HV is set out as amino acids 1-122 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 37).

The choice of human variable domains, both light and heavy, to be used in making the humanized antibodies and antibody fragments is very important to reduce antigenicity. According to the so-called "best-fit" method, the sequence of the variable domain of a rodent antibody is screened against the entire library of known human variable-domain sequences. The human sequence which is closest to that of the rodent is then accepted as the human framework (FR) for the humanized antibody (Sims et al., J. Immunol. 151: 2296 (1993); Chothia and Lesk, J. Mol. Biol. 196:901 (1987)). Another method uses a particular framework derived from the consensus sequence of all human antibodies of a particular subgroup of light or heavy chains. The same framework can be used for several different humanized antibodies (Carter et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89:4285 (1992); Presta et al., J. Immunol. 151:2623 (1993)).

It is also important that the antibodies and antibody fragments of the invention be humanized with retention of high affinity for human IL-8 and other favorable biological properties. To achieve this goal, according to a preferred method, the humanized antibodies and antibody fragments of the invention are prepared by a process of analysis of the parental sequences and various conceptual humanized products using three-dimensional models of the parental and humanized sequences. Three-dimensional immunoglobulin models are commonly available and are familiar to those skilled in the art. Computer programs are available which illustrate and display probable three-dimensional conformational structures of selected candidate immunoglobulin sequences. Inspection of these displays permits analysis of the likely role of the residues in the functioning of the candidate immunoglobulin sequence, i.e., the analysis of residues that influence the ability of the candidate immunoglobulin to bind its antigen. In this way, FR residues can be selected and combined from the consensus and parental sequences so that the desired antibody characteristic, such as increased affinity for the target antigen(s), is achieved.

Any and all humanized light chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5LV are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5LV".

Any and all humanized light chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5LV/L1N35X₃₅ are collectively referred to herein as "hu 6G4.2.5LV/L1N35X₃₅ ".

Any and all humanized light chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A".

Any and all humanized light chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5LV/L1S26X₂₆ are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5LV/L1S26X₂₆ ".

Any and all humanized light chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5LV/L1S26A are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5LV/L1S26A".

Any and all humanized light chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5LV/L3H98X₉, are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5LV/L3H98X₉₈ ".

Any and all humanized light chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5LV/L3H98A are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5LV/L3H98A".

Any and all humanized light chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5LV/L1S26X₂₆,N35X₃₅ are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5LV/L1S26X₂₆,N35X₃₅ ".

Any and all humanized light chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5LV/L1S26A,N35A are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5LV/L1S26A,N35A".

Any and all humanized light chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5LV/L1N35X₃₅ /L3H98X₉₈ are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35X₃₅ /L3H98X₉₈ ".

Any and all humanized light chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A/L3H98A are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A/L3H98A".

Any and all humanized light chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5LV/L1S26X₂₆ /L3H98X₉₈ are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5LV/L1S26X₂₆ /L3H98X₉₈ ".

Any and all humanized light chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5LV/L1S26A/L3H98A are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5LV/L1S26A/L3H98A".

Any and all humanized light chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5LV/L1S26X₂₆,N35X₃₅ /L3H98X₉₈ are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5LV/L1S26X₂₆,N35X₃₅ /L3H98X₉₈ ".

Any and all humanized light chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5LV/L1S26A,N35A/L3H98A are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5LV/L1S26A,N35A/L3H98A".

The humanized light chain variable domain amino acid sequences of hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35X₃₅, hu6G4.2.5LV/L1S26X₂₆, hu6G4.2.5LV/L1S26X₂₆ /L3H98X₉₈, hu6G4.2.5LV/L1S26X₂₆,N35X₃₅, hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35X₃₅ /L3H98X₉₈, hu6G4.2.5LV/L1S26X₂₆ /L3H98X₉₈, and hu6G4.2.5LV/L1S26X₂₆,N35X₃₅ /L3H98X₉₈ are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3X".

The humanized light chain variable domain amino acid sequences of hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A, hu6G4.2.5LV/L1S26A, hu6G4.2.5LV/L1S26A/L3H98A, hu6G4.2.5LV/L1S26A,N35A, hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A/L3H98A, hu6G4.2.5LV/L1S26A/L3H98A, hu6G4.2.5LV/L1S26A,N35A/L3H98A are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3A".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ ".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ ".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H3D100E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H3D100E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H3R102K are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H3R102K".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H3D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H3D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H3D100E,R102K are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H3D100E,R102K".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H3R102K,D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H3R102K,D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H3D100E,D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H3D100E,D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H3D100E,R102K,D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H3D100E,R102K,D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ ".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3D100E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3D100E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3R102K are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3R102K".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3D100E,R102K are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3D100E,R102K".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3R102K,D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3R102K,D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3D100E,D106E are collectively referred as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3D100E,D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3D100E,R102K,D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3D100E,R102K,D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ /H3R102K are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ /H3R102K".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ /H3R102K,D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ /H3R102K,D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E,D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E,D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E,R102K,D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E,R102K,D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3R102K are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3R102K".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z,₄ /H3D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E,R102K are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E,R102K".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3R102K,D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3R102K,D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E,D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E,D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E,R102K,D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E,R102K,D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3D100E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3D100E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3R102K are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3R102K".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3D100E,R102K are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3D100E,R102K".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3R102K,D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3R102K,D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3D100E,D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3D100E,D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3D100E,R102K,D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3D100E,R102K,D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A/H3D100E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A/H3D100E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A/H3R102K are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A/H3R102K".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A/H3D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A/H3D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A/H3R102K,D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A/H3R102K,D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A/H3D100E,D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A/H3D100E,D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A/H3D100E,R102K,D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A/H3D100E,R102K,D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3D100E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3D100E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3R102K are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3R102K".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3D100E,R102K are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3D100E,R102K".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3R102K,D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3R102K,D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3D100E,D106E are collectively to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3D100E,D106E".

Any and all humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences which comprise the CDRs of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3D100E,R102K,D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3D100E,R102K,D106E".

The humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences of hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁, hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄, hu6G4.2.5HV/H3D100E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H3R102K, hu6G4.2.5HV/H3D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H3D100E,R102K, hu6G4.2.5HV/H3R102K,D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H3D100E,D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H3D100E,R102K,D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3D100E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3R102K, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3D100E,R102K, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3R102K,D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3D100E,D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H3D100E,R102K,D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ /H3R102K, hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ /H3R102K,D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E,D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E,R102K,D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3R102K, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E,R102K, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3R102K,D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E,D106E, and hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄ /H3D100E,R102K,D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z".

The humanized heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequences of hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A, hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A, hu6G4.2.5HV/H3D100E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H3R102K, hu6G4.2.5HV/H3D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H3D100E,R102K, hu6G4.2.5HV/H3R102K,D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H3D100E,D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H3D100E,R102K,D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3D100E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3R102K, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3D100E,R102K, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3R102K,D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3D100E,D100E,D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H3D100E,R102K,D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A/H3D100E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A/H3R102K, hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A/H3D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A/H3R102K,D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A/H3D100E,D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A/H3D100E,R102K,D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3D100E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3R102K, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3D100E,R102K, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3R102K,D106E, hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3D100E,D106E, and hu6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A/H3D100E,R102K,D106E are collectively referred to herein as "hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3A".

The invention provides a humanized antibody or antibody fragment that comprises a light chain variable domain comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3X. In another embodiment, the invention provides a humanized antibody or antibody fragment that comprises a light chain variable domain comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3A. In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a humanized antibody or antibody fragment that comprises a light chain variable domain comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35X₃₅. In still another embodiment, the invention provides a humanized antibody or antibody fragment that comprises a light chain variable domain comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A.

The invention additionally provides a humanized antibody or antibody fragment that comprises a light chain variable domain comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3X, and further comprises a heavy chain variable domain comprising the hu6G4.2.5HV or hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z. In another embodiment, the invention provides a humanized antibody or antibody fragment that comprises a light chain variable domain comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3A, and further comprises a heavy chain variable domain comprising the hu6G4.2.5HV or hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z. In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a humanized antibody or antibody fragment that comprises a light chain variable domain comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3A, and further comprises a heavy chain variable domain comprising the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3A.

In a further embodiment, the invention provides a humanized antibody or antibody fragment that comprises a light chain variable domain comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35X₃₅, and further comprises a heavy chain variable domain comprising the hu6G4.2.5HV or hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z. In another embodiment, the invention provides a humanized antibody or antibody fragment that comprises a light chain variable domain comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/N35X₃₅, and further comprises a heavy chain variable domain comprising the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3A. In a preferred embodiment, the antibody or antibody fragment comprises a light chain variable domain comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35X₃₅ and further comprises a humanized heavy chain variable domain comprising the amino acid sequence of 6G4.2.5HV11.

In an additional embodiment, the invention provides a humanized antibody or antibody fragment that comprises a light chain variable domain comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A, and further comprises a heavy chain variable domain comprising the hu6G4.2.5HV or hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z. In another embodiment, the invention provides a humanized antibody or antibody fragment that comprises a light chain variable domain comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/N35A, and further comprises a heavy chain variable domain comprising the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3A. In still another embodiment, the humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprises a light chain variable domain comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A, and further comprises a heavy chain variable domain comprising the hu6G4.2.5HV. In a preferred embodiment, the antibody or antibody fragment comprises a light chain variable domain comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A and further comprises a humanized heavy chain variable domain comprising the amino acid sequence of 6G4.2.5HV11.

The invention encompasses a single chain antibody fragment comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3X, with or without any additional amino acid sequence. In one embodiment, the invention provides a single chain antibody fragment comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3X without any associated heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence, i.e. a single chain species that makes up one half of an Fv fragment. In another embodiment, the invention provides a single chain antibody fragment comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3A without any associated heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence. In still another embodiment, the invention provides a single chain antibody fragment comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35X₃₅ without any associated heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a single chain antibody fragment comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A without any associated heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a single chain antibody fragment wherein the hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3X and the hu6G4.2.5HV or hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z are contained in a single chain polypeptide species. In a preferred embodiment, the single chain antibody fragment is a scFv species comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3X joined to the hu6G4.2.5HV or hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z by means of a flexible peptide linker sequence, wherein the heavy chain and light chain variable domains can associate in a "dimeric" structure analogous to that formed in a two-chain Fv species. In another embodiment, the single chain antibody fragment is a species comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3X joined to the hu6G4.2.5HV or hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z by a linker that is too short to permit intramolecular pairing of the two variable domains, i.e. a single chain polypeptide monomer that forms a diabody upon dimerization with another monomer.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a single chain antibody fragment wherein the hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3A and the hu6G4.2.5HV or hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z are contained in a single chain polypeptide species. In a preferred embodiment, the single chain antibody fragment is a scFv species comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3A joined to the hu6G4.2.5HV or hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z by means of a flexible peptide linker sequence, wherein the heavy chain and light chain variable domains can associate in a "dimeric" structure analogous to that formed in a two-chain Fv species. In another embodiment, the single chain antibody fragment is a species comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3A joined to the hu6G4.2.5HV or hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z by a linker that is too short to permit intramolecular pairing of the two variable domains, i.e. a single chain polypeptide monomer that forms a diabody upon dimerization with another monomer.

In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a single chain antibody fragment wherein the hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3A and the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3A are contained in a single chain polypeptide species. In a preferred embodiment, the single chain antibody fragment is a scFv species comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3A joined to the hu6G4.2.5 HV/vH1 -3A by means of a flexible peptide linker sequence, wherein the heavy chain and light chain variable domains can associate in a "dimeric" structure analogous to that formed in a two-chain Fv species. In another embodiment, the single chain antibody fragment is a species comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3A joined to the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3A by a linker that is too short to permit intramolecular pairing of the two variable domains, i.e. a single chain polypeptide monomer that forms a diabody upon dimerization with another monomer.

In still another embodiment, the invention provides a single chain antibody fragment wherein the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35X₃₅ and the hu6G4.2.5HV or hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z are contained in a single chain polypeptide species. In a preferred embodiment, the single chain antibody fragment is a scFv species comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35X₃₅ joined to the hu6G4.2.5HV or hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z by means of a flexible peptide linker sequence, wherein the heavy chain and light chain variable domains can associate in a "dimeric" structure analogous to that formed in a two-chain Fv species. In another embodiment, the single chain antibody fragment is a species comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35X₃₅ joined to the hu6G4.2.5HV or hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z by a linker that is too short to permit intramolecular pairing of the two variable domains, i.e. a single chain polypeptide monomer that forms a diabody upon dimerization with another monomer.

In a further embodiment, the invention provides a single chain antibody fragment wherein the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35X₃₅ and the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3A are contained in a single chain polypeptide species. In a preferred embodiment, the single chain antibody fragment is a scFv species comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35X₃₅ joined to the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3A by means of a flexible peptide linker sequence, wherein the heavy chain and light chain variable domains can associate in a "dimeric" structure analogous to that formed in a two-chain Fv species. In another embodiment, the single chain antibody fragment is a species comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35X₃₅ joined to the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3A by a linker that is too short to permit intramolecular pairing of the two variable domains, i.e. a single chain polypeptide monomer that forms a diabody upon dimerization with another monomer.

In an additional embodiment, the invention provides a single chain antibody fragment wherein the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A and the hu6G4.2.5HV or hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z are contained in a single chain polypeptide species. In a preferred embodiment, the single chain antibody fragment is a scFv species comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A joined to the hu6G4.2.5HV or hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z by means of a flexible peptide linker sequence, wherein the heavy chain and light chain variable domains can associate in a "dimeric" structure analogous to that formed in a two-chain Fv species. In another embodiment, the single chain antibody fragment is a species comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A joined to the hu6G4.2.5HV or hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z by a linker that is too short to permit intramolecular pairing of the two variable domains, i.e. a single chain polypeptide monomer that forms a diabody upon dimerization with another monomer.

In still another embodiment, the invention provides a single chain antibody fragment wherein the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A and the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3A are contained in a single chain polypeptide species. In a preferred embodiment, the single chain antibody fragment is a scFv species comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A joined to the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3A by means of a flexible peptide linker sequence, wherein the heavy chain and light chain variable domains can associate in a "dimeric" structure analogous to that formed in a two-chain Fv species. In another embodiment, the single chain antibody fragment is a species comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A joined to the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3A by a linker that is too short to permit intramolecular pairing of the two variable domains, i.e. a single chain polypeptide monomer that forms a diabody upon dimerization with another monomer.

In yet another embodiment, the invention provides an antibody fragment comprising a plurality of polypeptide chains, wherein one polypeptide chain comprises the hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3X and a second polypeptide chain comprises the hu6G4.2.5HV or hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z and the two polypeptide chains are covalently linked by one or more interchain disulfide bonds.

In still another embodiment, the invention provides an antibody fragment comprising a plurality of polypeptide chains, wherein one polypeptide chain comprises the hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3X and a second polypeptide chain comprises the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3A and the two polypeptide chains are covalently linked by one or more interchain disulfide bonds. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides an antibody fragment comprising a plurality of polypeptide chains, wherein one polypeptide chain comprises the hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3X and a second polypeptide chain comprises the amino acid sequence of 6G4.2.5HV11 and the two polypeptide chains are covalently linked by one or more interchain disulfide bonds.

In a further embodiment, the invention provides an antibody fragment comprising a plurality of polypeptide chains, wherein one polypeptide chain comprises the hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3A and a second polypeptide chain comprises the hu6G4.2.5HV or hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z and the two polypeptide chains are covalently linked by one or more interchain disulfide bonds.

In still another embodiment, the invention provides an antibody fragment comprising a plurality of polypeptide chains, wherein one polypeptide chain comprises the hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3A and a second polypeptide chain comprises the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3A and the two polypeptide chains are covalently linked by one or more interchain disulfide bonds. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides an antibody fragment comprising a plurality of polypeptide chains, wherein one polypeptide chain comprises the hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3A and a second polypeptide chain comprises the amino acid sequence of 6G4.2.5HV11 and the two polypeptide chains are covalently linked by one or more interchain disulfide bonds.

The invention also encompasses an antibody fragment comprising a plurality of polypeptide chains, wherein one polypeptide chain comprises the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35X₃₅ and a second polypeptide chain comprises the hu6G4.2.5HV or hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z and the two polypeptide chains are covalently linked by one or more interchain disulfide bonds.

In still another embodiment, the invention provides an antibody fragment comprising a plurality of polypeptide chains, wherein one polypeptide chain comprises the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35X₃₅ and a second polypeptide chain comprises the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3A and the two polypeptide chains are covalently linked by one or more interchain disulfide bonds. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides an antibody fragment comprising a plurality of polypeptide chains, wherein one polypeptide chain comprises the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35X₃₅ and a second polypeptide chain comprises the amino acid sequence of 6G4.2.5HV11 and the two polypeptide chains are covalently linked by one or more interchain disulfide bonds.

The invention further encompasses an antibody fragment comprising a plurality of polypeptide chains, wherein one polypeptide chain comprises the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A and a second polypeptide chain comprises the hu6G4.2.5HV or hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z and the two polypeptide chains are covalently linked by one or more interchain disulfide bonds.

In still another embodiment, the invention provides an antibody fragment comprising a plurality of polypeptide chains, wherein one polypeptide chain comprises the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A and a second polypeptide chain comprises the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3A and the two polypeptide chains are covalently linked by one or more interchain disulfide bonds. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides an antibody fragment comprising a plurality of polypeptide chains, wherein one polypeptide chain comprises the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A and a second polypeptide chain comprises the amino acid sequence of 6G4.2.5HV11 and the two polypeptide chains are covalently linked by one or more interchain disulfide bonds.

In a preferred embodiment, any of the foregoing two-chain antibody fragments are selected from the group consisting of Fab, Fab', Fab'-SH, Fv, and F(ab')₂. In another preferred embodiment, the antibody fragment is selected from the group consisting of Fab, Fab', Fab'-SH, Fv, and F(ab')₂, wherein the antibody fragment comprises one polypeptide chain comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35X₃₅ and a second polypeptide chain comprising the hu6G4.2.5HV. In yet another preferred embodiment, the antibody fragment is selected from the group consisting of Fab, Fab', Fab'-SH, Fv, and F(ab')₂, wherein the antibody fragment comprises one polypeptide chain comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A and a second polypeptide chain comprising the hu6G4.2.5HV. In still another preferred embodiment, the antibody fragment is a F(ab')₂ that comprises one polypeptide chain comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of 6G4.2.5HV11.

The invention also provides an antibody or antibody fragment comprising a light chain variable domain containing the hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3X and optionally further comprising a heavy chain variable domain containing the hu6G4.2.5HV or hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z, wherein the light chain variable domain, and optionally the heavy chain variable domain, is (are) fused to an additional moiety, such as a immunoglobulin constant domain. Constant domain sequence can be added to the heavy chain and/or light chain sequence(s) to form species with full or partial length heavy and/or light chain(s). It will be appreciated that constant regions of any isotype can be used for this purpose, including IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE constant regions, and that such constant regions can be obtained from any human or animal species. Preferably, the constant domain sequence is human in origin. Suitable human constant domain sequences can be obtained from Kabat et al.

The invention additionally provides an antibody or antibody fragment comprising a light chain variable domain containing the hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3X and optionally further comprising a heavy chain variable domain containing the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3A, wherein the light chain variable domain, and optionally the heavy chain variable domain, is (are) fused to an additional moiety, such as a immunoglobulin constant domain. Constant domain sequence can be added to the heavy chain and/or light chain sequence(s) to form species with full or partial length heavy and/or light chain(s). It will be appreciated that constant regions of any isotype can be used for this purpose, including IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE constant regions, and that such constant regions can be obtained from any human or animal species. Preferably, the constant domain sequence is human in origin. Suitable human constant domain sequences can be obtained from Kabat et al.

The invention further provides an antibody or antibody fragment comprising a light chain variable domain containing the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35X₃₅ and optionally further comprising a heavy chain variable domain containing the hu6G4.2.5HV or hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z, wherein the light chain variable domain, and optionally the heavy chain variable domain, is (are) fused to an additional moiety, such as a immunoglobulin constant domain. Constant domain sequence can be added to the heavy chain and/or light chain sequence(s) to form species with full or partial length heavy and/or light chain(s). It will be appreciated that constant regions of any isotype can be used for this purpose, including IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE constant regions, and that such constant regions can be obtained from any human or animal species. Preferably, the constant domain sequence is human in origin. Suitable human constant domain sequences can be obtained from Kabat et al.

The invention additionally provides an antibody or antibody fragment comprising a light chain variable domain containing the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35X₃₅ and optionally further comprising a heavy chain variable domain containing the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3A, wherein the light chain variable domain, and optionally the heavy chain variable domain, is (are) fused to an additional moiety, such as a immunoglobulin constant domain. Constant domain sequence can be added to the heavy chain and/or light chain sequence(s) to form species with full or partial length heavy and/or light chain(s). It will be appreciated that constant regions of any isotype can be used for this purpose, including IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE constant regions, and that such constant regions can be obtained from any human or animal species. Preferably, the constant domain sequence is human in origin. Suitable human constant domain sequences can be obtained from Kabat et al.

The invention also encompasses an antibody or antibody fragment comprising a light chain variable domain containing the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A and optionally further comprising a heavy chain variable domain containing the hu6G4.2.5HV or hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z, wherein the light chain variable domain, and optionally the heavy chain variable domain, is (are) fused to an additional moiety, such as a immunoglobulin constant domain. Constant domain sequence can be added to the heavy chain and/or light chain sequence(s) to form species with full or partial length heavy and/or light chain(s). It will be appreciated that constant regions of any isotype can be used for this purpose, including IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE constant regions, and that such constant regions can be obtained from any human or animal species. Preferably, the constant domain sequence is human in origin. Suitable human constant domain sequences can be obtained from Kabat et al.

The invention additionally provides an antibody or antibody fragment comprising a light chain variable domain containing the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A and optionally further comprising a heavy chain variable domain containing the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3A, wherein the light chain variable domain, and optionally the heavy chain variable domain, is (are) fused to an additional moiety, such as a immunoglobulin constant domain. Constant domain sequence can be added to the heavy chain and/or light chain sequence(s) to form species with full or partial length heavy and/or light chain(s). It will be appreciated that constant regions of any isotype can be used for this purpose, including IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE constant regions, and that such constant regions can be obtained from any human or animal species. Preferably, the constant domain sequence is human in origin. Suitable human constant domain sequences can be obtained from Kabat et al.

The invention additionally encompasses an antibody or antibody fragment comprising a light chain variable domain containing the hu6G4.2.5LV/L1N35A and optionally further comprising a heavy chain variable domain containing the amino acid sequence of 6G4.2.5HV11, wherein the light chain variable domain, and optionally the heavy chain variable domain, is (are) fused to an additional moiety, such as a immunoglobulin constant domain. Constant domain sequence can be added to the heavy chain and/or light chain sequence(s) to form species with full or partial length heavy and/or light chain(s). It will be appreciated that constant regions of any isotype can be used for this purpose, including IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE constant regions, and that such constant regions can be obtained from any human or animal species. Preferably, the constant domain sequence is human in origin. Suitable human constant domain sequences can be obtained from Kabat et al.

In a preferred embodiment, the antibody or antibody fragment comprises a light chain variable domain containing the hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3X, and further comprises the hu6G4.2.5HV or hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z in a heavy chain variable domain that is fused to a heavy chain constant domain containing a leucine zipper sequence. The leucine zipper can increase the affinity or production efficiency of the antibody or antibody fragment of interest. Suitable leucine zipper sequences include the jun and fos leucine zippers taught by Kostelney et al., J. Immunol., 148: 1547-1553 (1992) and the GCN4 leucine zipper described in the Examples below.

In particular, the invention provides an antibody or antibody fragment comprising a light chain variable domain comprising the amino acid sequence of amino acids 1-219 of the variant humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5v11 light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIG. 31B (SEQ ID NO: 51) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Asn (denoted as "X₃₅ ") is substituted for Asn at amino acid position 35 (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV11N35X₃₅ ").

In another embodiment, the invention provides an antibody or antibody fragment comprising a light chain variable domain comprising the amino acid sequence of amino acids 1-219 of the variant humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5v11 light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIG. 31B (SEQ ID NO: 51) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "X₂₆ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 26 (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV11S26X₂₆ ").

In yet another embodiment, the invention provides an antibody or antibody fragment comprising a light chain variable domain comprising the amino acid sequence of amino acids 1-219 of the variant humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5v11 light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIG. 31B (SEQ ID NO: 51) with the proviso that any amino acid other than His (denoted as "X₉₈ ") is substituted for His at amino acid position 98 (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV11H98X₉₈ ").

In still another embodiment, the invention provides an antibody or antibody fragment comprising a light chain variable domain comprising the amino acid sequence of amino acids 1-219 of the variant humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5v11 light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIG. 31B (SEQ ID NO: 51) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "X₂₆ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 26 and any amino acid other than Asn (denoted as "X₃₅ ") is substituted for Asn at amino acid position 35 (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV11S26X₂₆ /N35X₃₅ ").

In a further embodiment, the invention provides an antibody or antibody fragment comprising a light chain variable domain comprising the amino acid sequence of amino acids 1-219 of the variant humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5v11 light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIG. 31B (SEQ ID NO: 51) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Asn (denoted as "X₃₅ ") is substituted for Asn at amino acid position 35 and any amino acid other than His (denoted as "X₉₈ ") is substituted for His at amino acid position 98 (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV11N35X₃₅ /H98X₉₈ ").

In an additional embodiment, the invention provides an antibody or antibody fragment comprising a light chain variable domain comprising the amino acid sequence of amino acids 1-219 of the variant humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5v11 light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIG. 31B (SEQ ID NO: 51) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "X₂₆ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 26 and any amino acid other than His (denoted as "X₉₈ ") is substituted for His at amino acid position 98 (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV11S26X₂₆ /H98X₉₈ ").

The invention also encompasses an antibody or antibody fragment comprising a light chain variable domain comprising the amino acid sequence of amino acids 1-219 of the variant humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5v11 light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIG. 31B (SEQ ID NO: 51) with the proviso that any amino acid other than Ser (denoted as "X₂₆ ") is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 26, any amino acid other than Asn (denoted as "X₃₅ ") is substituted for Asn at amino acid position 35 and any amino acid other than His (denoted as "X₉₈ ") is substituted for His at amino acid position 98 (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV11S26X₂₆ /N35X₃₅ /H98X₉₈ ").

Additionally, the invention provides an antibody or antibody fragment comprising a light chain variable domain comprising the amino acid sequence of amino acids 1-219 of the variant humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5v11 light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 56) of FIG. 36 (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV11N35A").

In another embodiment, the invention provides an antibody or antibody fragment comprising a light chain variable domain comprising the amino acid sequence of amino acids 1-219 of the variant humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5v11 light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIG. 31B (SEQ ID NO: 51) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 26 (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV11S26A").

In yet another embodiment, the invention provides an antibody or antibody fragment comprising a light chain variable domain comprising the amino acid sequence of amino acids 1-219 of the variant humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5v11 light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIG. 31B (SEQ ID NO: 51) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for His at amino acid position 98 (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV11H98A").

In still another embodiment, the invention provides an antibody or antibody fragment comprising a light chain variable domain comprising the amino acid sequence of amino acids 1-219 of the variant humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5V11 light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIG. 31B (SEQ ID NO: 51) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 26 and Ala is substituted for Asn at amino acid position 35 (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV11S26A/N35A").

In a further embodiment, the invention provides an antibody or antibody fragment comprising a light chain variable domain comprising the amino acid sequence of amino acids 1-219 of the variant humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5v11 light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIG. 31B (SEQ ID NO: 51) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 26 and Ala is substituted for His at amino acid position 98 (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV11S26A/H98A").

The invention also encompasses an antibody or antibody fragment comprising a light chain variable domain comprising the amino acid sequence of amino acids 1-219 of the variant humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5v11 light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIG. 31B (SEQ ID NO: 51) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Asn at amino acid position 35 and Ala is substituted for His at amino acid position 98 (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV11N35A/H98A").

The invention further encompasses an antibody or antibody fragment comprising a light chain variable domain comprising the amino acid sequence of amino acids 1-219 of the variant humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5v11 light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIG. 31B (SEQ ID NO: 51) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 26, Ala is substituted for Asn at amino acid position 35, and Ala is substituted for His at amino acid position 98 (herein referred to as "6G4.2.5LV11S26A/N35A/H98A").

The invention provides a single chain antibody fragment comprising a variant light chain variable domain selected from the group consisting of 6G4.2.5LV11N35X₃₅, 6G4.2.5LV11S26X₂₆, 6G4.2.5LV11H98X₉₈, 6G4.2.5LV11S26X₂₆ /N35X₃₅, 6G4.2.5LV11N35X₃₅ /H98X₉₈, 6G4.2.5LV11S26X₂₆ /H98X₉₈, and 6G4.2.5LV11S26X₂₆ /N35X₃₅ /H98X₉₈, with or without any additional amino acid sequence. It will be understood that the group consisting of 6G4.2.5LV11N35X₃₅, 6G4.2.5LV11S26X₂₆, 6G4.2.5LV11H98X₉₈, 6G4.2.5LV11S26X₂₆ /N35X₃₅, 6G4.2.5LV11N35X₃₅ /H98X₉₈, 6G4.2.5LV11N26X₂₆ /H98X₉₈, and 6G4.2.5LV11S26X₂₆ /N35X₃₅ /H98X₉₈, is collectively referred to herein as the "group of 6G4.2.5LV11X variants", and that individual members of this group are generically referred to herein as a "6G4.2.5LV11X variant." In one embodiment, the invention provides a single chain antibody fragment comprising a 6G4.2.5LV11X variant without any associated heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence, i.e. a single chain species that makes up one half of an Fv fragment. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides the 6G4.2.5LV11N35X₃₅ without any associated heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence.

The invention encompasses a single chain antibody fragment comprising a variant light chain variable domain selected from the group consisting of 6G4.2.5LV11N35A, 6G4.2.5LV11S26A, 6G4.2.5LV11H98A, 6G4.2.5LV11S26A/N35A, 6G4.2.5LV11N35A/H98A, 6G4.2.5LV11S26A/H98A, and 6G4.2.5LV11S26A/N35A/H98A, with or without any additional amino acid sequence. It will be understood that the group consisting of 6G4.2.5LV11N35A, 6G4.2.5LV11S26A, 6G4.2.5LV11H98A, 6G4.2.5LV11S26A/N35A, 6G4.2.5LV11N35A/H98A, 6G4.2.5LV11S26A/H98A, and 6G4.2.5LV11S26A/N35A/H98A is collectively referred to herein as the "group of 6G4.2.5LV11A variants", and that individual members of this group are generically referred to herein as a "6G4.2.5LV11A variant." In one embodiment, the invention provides a single chain antibody fragment comprising a 6G4.2.5LV11A variant without any associated heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence, i.e. a single chain species that makes up one half of an Fv fragment. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides the 6G4.2.5LV11N35A without any associated heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence.

Further provided herein are an antibody or antibody fragment comprising a light chain variable domain comprising a 6G4.2.5LV11X variant, and further comprising a heavy chain variable domain comprising the 6G4.2.5HV11. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides an antibody or antibody fragment comprising the 6G4.2.5LV11N35X₃₅ and further comprising the 6G4.2.5HV11. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides an antibody or antibody fragment comprising the 6G4.2.5LV11N35A and further comprising the 6G4.2.5HV11.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a single chain antibody fragment wherein a 6G4.2.5LV11X variant and the 6G4.2.5HV11 are contained in a single chain polypeptide species. In a preferred embodiment, the single chain antibody fragment is a scFv species comprising a 6G4.2.5LV11X variant joined to the 6G4.2.5HV11 by means of a flexible peptide linker sequence, wherein the heavy chain and light chain variable domains can associate in a "dimeric" structure analogous to that formed in a two-chain Fv species. In another embodiment, the single chain antibody fragment is a species comprising a 6G4.2.5LV11X variant joined to the 6G4.2.5HV11 by a linker that is too short to permit intramolecular pairing of the two variable domains, i.e. a single chain polypeptide monomer that forms a diabody upon dimerization with another monomer.

In still another embodiment, the invention provides a single chain antibody fragment wherein a 6G4.2.5LV11N35X₃₅ variant and the 6G4.2.5HV11 are contained in a single chain polypeptide species. In a preferred embodiment, the single chain antibody fragment is a scFv species comprising a 6G4.2.5LV11N35X₃₅ variant joined to the 6G4.2.5HV11 by means of a flexible peptide linker sequence, wherein the heavy chain and light chain variable domains can associate in a "dimeric" structure analogous to that formed in a two-chain Fv species. In another embodiment, the single chain antibody fragment is a species comprising a 6G4.2.5LV11N35X₃₅ variant joined to the 6G4.2.5HV11 by a linker that is too short to permit intramolecular pairing of the two variable domains, i.e. a single chain polypeptide monomer that forms a diabody upon dimerization with another monomer.

In a further embodiment, the invention provides a single chain antibody fragment wherein a 6G4.2.5LV11N35A variant and the 6G4.2.5HV11 are contained in a single chain polypeptide species. In a preferred embodiment, the single chain antibody fragment is a scFv species comprising a 6G4.2.5LV11N35A variant joined to the 6G4.2.5HV11 by means of a flexible peptide linker sequence, wherein the heavy chain and light chain variable domains can associate in a "dimeric" structure analogous to that formed in a two-chain Fv species. In another embodiment, the single chain antibody fragment is a species comprising a 6G4.2.5LV11N35A variant joined to the 6G4.2.5HV11 by a linker that is too short to permit intramolecular pairing of the two variable domains, i.e. a single chain polypeptide monomer that forms a diabody upon dimerization with another monomer.

In yet another embodiment, the invention provides an antibody fragment comprising a plurality of polypeptide chains, wherein one polypeptide chain comprises a 6G4.2.5LV11X variant and a second polypeptide chain comprises the 6G4.2.5HV11 I and the two polypeptide chains are covalently linked by one or more interchain disulfide bonds. In still another embodiment, the invention provides an antibody fragment comprising a plurality of polypeptide chains, wherein one polypeptide chain comprises a 6G4.2.5LV11N35X₃₅ variant and a second polypeptide chain comprises the 6G4.2.5HV11 and the two polypeptide chains are covalently linked by one or more interchain disulfide bonds. In a preferred embodiment, any of the foregoing two-chain antibody fragments is selected from the group consisting of Fab, Fab', Fab'-SH, Fv, and F(ab')₂. In still another preferred embodiment, the two-chain antibody fragment is a F(ab')₂ wherein one polypeptide chain comprises the 6G4.2.5LV11N35A and the second polypeptide chain comprises the 6G4.2.5HV11. A particularly preferred embodiment, the antibody fragment is the 6G4V11N35A F(ab')₂ GCN4 leucine zipper species described in the Examples below.

The invention also provides an antibody or antibody fragment comprising a light chain variable domain containing a 6G4.2.5LV11X variant and optionally further comprising a heavy chain variable domain containing the 6G4.2.5HV11, wherein the light chain variable domain, and optionally the heavy chain variable domain, is (are) fused to an additional moiety, such as a immunoglobulin constant domain. Constant domain sequence can be added to the heavy chain and/or light chain sequence(s) to form species with full or partial length heavy and/or light chain(s). It will be appreciated that constant regions of any isotype can be used for this purpose, including IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE constant regions, and that such constant regions can be obtained from any human or animal species. Preferably, the constant domain sequence is human in origin. Suitable human constant domain sequences can be obtained from Kabat et al.

The invention additionally provides an antibody or antibody fragment comprising a light chain variable domain containing a 6G4.2.5LV11N35X₃₅ variant and optionally further comprising a heavy chain variable domain containing the 6G4.2.5HV11, wherein the light chain variable domain, and optionally the heavy chain variable domain, is (are) fused to an additional moiety, such as a immunoglobulin constant domain. Constant domain sequence can be added to the heavy chain and/or light chain sequence(s) to form species with full or partial length heavy and/or light chain(s). It will be appreciated that constant regions of any isotype can be used for this purpose, including IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE constant regions, and that such constant regions can be obtained from any human or animal species. Preferably, the constant domain sequence is human in origin. Suitable human constant domain sequences can be obtained from Kabat et al.

In a preferred embodiment, the antibody or antibody fragment comprises a light chain variable domain containing a 6G4.2.5LV11X variant, and further comprises the 6G4.2.5HV11 in a heavy chain variable domain that is fused to a heavy chain constant domain containing a leucine zipper sequence. The leucine zipper can increase the affinity or production efficiency of the antibody or antibody fragment of interest. Suitable leucine zipper sequences include the jun and fos leucine zippers taught by Kostelney et al., J. Immunol., 148: 1547-1553 (1992) and the GCN4 leucine zipper described in the Examples below. In another preferred embodiment, the antibody or antibody fragment comprises a light chain variable domain containing a 6G4.2.5LV11 variant, and further comprises a heavy chain containing the 6G4.2.5HV11GCN4.

B. 6G4.2.5HV Variants

The invention provides humanized antibodies and antibody fragments comprising the CDRs of a 6G4.2.5HV CDR variant. The use of a 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant in the humanized antibodies and antibody fragments of the invention confer the advantages of higher affinity for human IL-8 and/or improved recombinant manufacturing economy.

A heavy chain variable domain comprising the CDRs of a 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant can be humanized in conjunction with a light chain comprising the CDRs of 6G4.2.5LV or the CDRs of a 6G4.2.5LV CDRs variant, essentially as described in Section (II)(2)(A) above. In one embodiment, the invention provides a humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant selected from the group consisting of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁, 6G4.2.5HV/H2S54Z₅₄, and 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31Z₃₁ /H2S54Z₅₄. In addition, the invention provides a humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variant selected from the group consisting of 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A, 6G4.2.5HV/H2S54A, and 6G4.2.5HV/H1S31A/H2S54A. In particular, the 6G4.2.5HV CDRs variants can be used to construct a humanized antibody or antibody comprising the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z as described in Section (II)(2)(A) above.

The invention additionally provides a humanized antibody or antibody fragment that comprises a heavy chain variable domain comprising the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z, and further comprises a light chain variable domain comprising the hu6G4.2.5LV or hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3X.

The invention further encompasses a single chain humanized antibody fragment comprising the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z, with or without any additional amino acid sequence. In one embodiment, the invention provides a single chain antibody fragment comprising the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z without any associated heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence, i.e. a single chain species that makes up one half of an Fv fragment.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a single chain humanized antibody fragment wherein the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z and the hu6G4.2.5LV or hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3X are contained in a single chain polypeptide species. In a preferred embodiment, the single chain antibody fragment is a scFv species comprising the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z joined to the hu6G4.2.5LV or hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3X by means of a flexible peptide linker sequence, wherein the heavy chain and light chain variable domains can associate in a "dimeric" structure analogous to that formed in a two-chain Fv species. In another embodiment, the single chain antibody fragment is a species comprising the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z joined to the hu6G4.2.5LV or hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3X by a linker that is too short to permit intramolecular pairing of the two variable domains, i.e. a single chain polypeptide monomer that forms a diabody upon dimerization with another monomer.

In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a humanized antibody fragment comprising a plurality of polypeptide chains, wherein one polypeptide chain comprises the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z and a second polypeptide chain comprises the hu6G4.2.5LV or hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3X and the two polypeptide chains are covalently linked by one or more interchain disulfide bonds. In a preferred embodiment, the foregoing two-chain antibody fragment is selected from the group consisting of Fab, Fab', Fab'-SH, Fv, and F(ab')₂.

The invention also provides a humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a heavy chain variable domain containing the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z and optionally further comprising a light chain variable domain containing the hu6G4.2.5LV or hu6G4.2.5LV/vL1-3X, wherein the heavy chain variable domain, and optionally the light chain variable domain, is (are) fused to an additional moiety, such as an immunoglobulin constant domain. Constant domain sequence can be added to the heavy chain and/or light chain sequence(s) to form species with full or partial length heavy and/or light chain(s). It will be appreciated that constant regions of any isotype can be used for this purpose, including IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE constant regions, and that such constant regions can be obtained from any human or animal species. Preferably, the constant domain sequence is human in origin. Suitable human constant domain sequences can be obtained from Kabat et al.

In a preferred embodiment, the humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprises the hu6G4.2.5HV/vH1-3Z in a heavy chain variable domain that is fused to a heavy chain constant domain containing a leucine zipper sequence. The leucine zipper can increase the affinity or production efficiency of the antibody or antibody fragment of interest. Suitable leucine zipper sequences include the jun and fos leucine zippers taught by Kostelney et al., J. Immunol., 148: 1547-1553 (1992) and the GCN4 leucine zipper described in the Examples below.

In addition, the invention provides a humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a heavy chain variable domain comprising the amino acid sequence of amino acids 1-230 of the 6G4.2.5HV11 polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIGS. 37A-37B (SEQ ID NO: 60) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31 (hereinafter referred to as "6G4.2.5HV11S31A").

In another embodiment, the invention provides a humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a heavy chain variable domain comprising the amino acid sequence of amino acids 1-230 of the 6G4.2.5HV11 polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIGS. 37A-37B (SEQ ID NO: 60) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54 (hereinafter referred to as "6G4.2.5HV11S54A").

In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a heavy chain variable domain comprising the amino acid sequence of amino acids 1-230 of the 6G4.2.5HV11 polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIGS. 37A-37B (SEQ ID NO: 60) with the proviso that Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 31 and Ala is substituted for Ser at amino acid position 54 (hereinafter referred to as "6G4.2.5HV11S31A/S54A").

Further provided herein is a humanized antibody or antibody fragment that comprises any of the light chain variable domain and heavy chain variable domain combinations listed in Tables 1-2 below.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Heavy Chain      Light Chain                                                   ______________________________________                                         6G4.2.5HV11S31A  6G4.2.5LV11                                                     6G4.2.5HV11S31A 6G4.2.5LV11N35A                                                6G4.2.5HV11S31A 6G4.2.5LV11S26A                                                6G4.2.5HV11S31A 6G4.2.5LV11H98A                                                6G4.2.5HV11S31A 6G4.2.5LV11S26A/N35A                                           6G4.2.5HV11S31A 6G4.2.5LV11S26A/H98A                                           6G4.2.5HV11S31A 6G4.2.5LV11N35A/H98A                                           6G4.2.5HV11S31A 6G4.2.5LV11S26A/N35A/H98A                                      6G4.2.5HV11S54A 6G4.2.5LV11                                                    6G4.2.5HV11S54A 6G4.2.5LV11N35A                                                6G4.2.5HV11S54A 6G4.2.5LV11S26A                                                6G4.2.5HV11S54A 6G4.2.5LV11H98A                                                6G4.2.5HV11S54A 6G4.2.5LV11S26A/N35A                                           6G4.2.5HV11S54A 6G4.2.5LV11S26A/H98A                                           6G4.2.5HV11S54A 6G4.2.5LV11N35A/H98A                                           6G4.2.5HV11S54A 6G4.2.5LV11S26A/N35A/H98A                                      6G4.2.5HV11S31A/S54A 6G4.2.5LV11                                               6G4.2.5HV11S31A/S54A 6G4.2.5LV11N35A                                           6G4.2.5HV11S31A/S54A 6G4.2.5LV11S26A                                           6G4.2.5HV11S31A/S54A 6G4.2.5LV11H98A                                           6G4.2.5HV11S31A/S54A 6G4.2.5LV11S26A/N35A                                      6G4.2.5HV11S31A/S54A 6G4.2.5LV11S26A/H98A                                      6G4.2.5HV11S31A/S54A 6G4.2.5LV11N35A/H98A                                      6G4.2.5HV11S31A/S54A 6G4.2.5LV11S26A/N35A/H98A                               ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Heavy Chain    Light Chain                                                     ______________________________________                                         6G4.2.5HV11S31A                                                                               6G4.2.5LV11                                                       6G4.2.5HV11S31A 6G4.2.5LV11N35X.sub.35                                         6G4.2.5HV11S31A 6G4.2.5LV11S26X.sub.26                                         6G4.2.5HV11S31A 6G4.2.5LV11H98X.sub.98                                         6G4.2.5HV11S31A 6G4.2.5LV11S26X.sub.26 /N35X.sub.35                            6G4.2.5HV11S31A 6G4.2.5LV11S26X.sub.26 /H98X.sub.98                            6G4.2.5HV11S31A 6G4.2.5LV11N35X.sub.35 /H98X.sub.98                            6G4.2.5HV11S31A 6G4.2.5LV11S26X.sub.26 /N35X.sub.35 /H98X.sub.98                             6G4.2.5HV11S54A 6G4.2.5LV11                                      6G4.2.5HV11S54A 6G4.2.5LV11N35X.sub.35                                         6G4.2.5HV11S54A 6G4.2.5LV11S26X.sub.26                                         6G4.2.5HV11S54A 6G4.2.5LV11H98X.sub.98                                         6G4.2.5HV11S54A 6G4.2.5LV11S26X.sub.26 /N35X.sub.35                            6G4.2.5HV11S54A 6G4.2.5LV11S26X.sub.26 /H98X.sub.98                            6G4.2.5HV11S54A 6G4.2.5LV11N35X.sub.35 /H98X.sub.98                            6G4.2.5HV11S54A 6G4.2.5LV11S26X.sub.26 /N35X.sub.35 /H98X.sub.98                             6G4.2.5HV11S31A/S54A 6G4.2.5LV11                                 6G4.2.5HV11S31A/S54A 6G4.2.5LV11N35X.sub.35                                    6G4.2.5HV11S31A/S54A 6G4.2.5LV11S26X.sub.26                                    6G4.2.5HV11S31A/S54A 6G4.2.5LV11H98X.sub.98                                    6G4.2.5HV11S31A/S54A 6G4.2.5LV11S26X.sub.26 /N35X.sub.35                       6G4.2.5HV11S31A/S54A 6G4.2.5LV11S26X.sub.26 /H98X.sub.98                       6G4.2.5HV11S31A/S54A 6G4.2.5LV11N35X.sub.35 /H98X.sub.98                       6G4.2.5HV11S31A/S54A 6G4.2.5LV11S26X.sub.26 /N35X.sub.35 /H98X.sub.98        ______________________________________                                    

The invention encompasses a single chain humanized antibody fragment comprising a variant heavy chain variable domain selected from the group consisting of 6G4.2.5HV11S31A, 6G4.2.5HV11S54A, and 6G4.2.5HV11S31A/S54A, with or without any additional amino sequence. It will be understood that the group consisting of 6G4.2.5HV11S31A, 6G4.2.5HV11S54A, and 6G4.2.5HV11S31A/S54A is collectively referred to herein "group of 6G4.2.5HV11A variants", and that individual members of this group are generically referred to herein as a "6G4.2.5HV11A variant." In one embodiment, the invention provides a single chain humanized antibody fragment comprising a 6G4.2.5HV11A variant without any associated light chain variable domain amino acid sequence, i.e. a single chain species that makes up one half of an Fv fragment.

Further provided herein are a humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a heavy chain variable domain comprising a 6G4.2.5HV11A variant, and further comprising a light chain variable domain comprising the 6G4.2.5LV11A or a 6G4.2.5LV11X variant. In another embodiment, the humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprises any combination of heavy chain variable domain and light chain variable domain listed in Tables 1 and 2 above. In one embodiment, the invention provides a humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a 6G4.2.5HV11A variant and further comprising the 6G4.2.5LV11N35X₃₅. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a 6G4.2.5HV11A variant and further comprising the 6G4.2.5LV11N35A.

In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a single chain humanized antibody fragment wherein a 6G4.2.5HV11A variant and the 6G4.2.5LV11 are contained in a single chain polypeptide species. In another embodiment, the invention provides a single chain humanized antibody fragment wherein any pair of light and heavy chain variable domains listed in Tables 1-2 above is contained in a single chain polypeptide species. In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a single chain humanized antibody fragment wherein a 6G4.2.5HV11 A variant and a 6G4.2.5LV11X variant are contained in a single chain polypeptide species. In still another embodiment, the invention provides a single chain humanized antibody fragment wherein a 6G4.2.5HV11A variant and a 6G4.2.5LV11N35X₃₅ variant are contained in a single chain polypeptide species. In an additional embodiment, the invention provides a single chain humanized antibody fragment wherein a 6G4.2.5HV11A variant and the 6G4.2.5LV11N35A variant are contained in a single chain polypeptide species.

In a preferred embodiment, the single chain humanized antibody fragment is a scFv species comprising a 6G4.2.5HV11A variant joined to a 6G4.2.5LV11X variant, 6G4.2.5LV11N35X₃₅ variant, 6G4.2.5LVN35A variant, or 6G4.2.5LV11 by means of a flexible peptide linker sequence, wherein the heavy chain and light chain variable domains can associate in a "dimeric" structure analogous to that formed in a two-chain Fv species. In a further embodiment, the single chain humanized antibody fragment is a species comprising a 6G4.2.5HV11A variant joined to a 6G4.2.5LV11X variant, 6G4.2.5LV11N35X₃₅ variant, 6G4.2.5LVN35A variant, or 6G4.2.5LV11 by a linker that is too short to permit intramolecular pairing of the two variable domains, i.e. a single chain polypeptide monomer that forms a diabody upon dimerization with another monomer.

In still another embodiment, the single chain humanized antibody fragment is a scFv species comprising any pair of light and heavy chain variable domains listed in Table 1 above joined by means of a flexible peptide linker sequence, wherein the heavy chain and light chain variable domains can associate in a "dimeric" structure analogous to that formed in a two-chain Fv species. In an additional embodiment, the single chain humanized antibody fragment is a species comprising any pair of light and heavy chain variable domains listed in Tables 1-2 above joined by a linker that is too short to permit intramolecular pairing of the two variable domains, i.e. a single chain polypeptide monomer that forms a diabody upon dimerization with another monomer.

In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a humanized antibody fragment comprising a plurality of polypeptide chains, wherein one polypeptide chain comprises a 6G4.2.5HV11A variant and a second polypeptide chain comprises a 6G4.2.5LV11X variant, 6G4.2.5LV11N35X₃₅ variant, 6G4.2.5LVN35A variant, or 6G4.2.5LV11, and the two polypeptide chains are covalently linked by one or more interchain disulfide bonds. In a preferred embodiment, the foregoing two-chain antibody fragment is selected from the group consisting of Fab, Fab', Fab'-SH, Fv, and F(ab')₂.

In an additional embodiment, the invention provides a two-chain humanized antibody fragment comprising any pair of heavy and light chain variable domains listed in Tables 1-2 above, wherein each variable domain is contained on a separate polypeptide chain. In another embodiment, the two-chain antibody fragment comprising any pair of heavy and light chain variable domains listed in Tables 1-2 above is selected from the group consisting of Fab, Fab', Fab'-SH, Fv, and F(ab')₂. In a preferred embodiment, the two-chain humanized antibody fragment is a F(ab')₂ comprising any pair of heavy and light chain variable domains listed in Tables 1-2 above. In another preferred embodiment, the two-chain humanized antibody fragment is a F(ab')₂ wherein one polypeptide chain comprises a 6G4.2.5HV11A variant and the second polypeptide chain comprises the 6G4.2.5LV11N35A.

The invention also provides a humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprising a heavy chain variable domain containing a 6G4.2.5HV11A variant and optionally further comprising a light chain variable domain containing a 6G4.2.5LV11X variant, 6G4.2.5LV11N35X₃₅ variant, 6G4.2.5LVN35A variant, or 6G4.2.5HV11, wherein chain variable domain, and optionally the light chain variable domain, is (are) fused to an additional moiety, such as an immunoglobulin constant domain. Constant domain sequence can be added to the heavy chain and/or light chain sequence(s) to form species with full or partial length heavy and/or light chain(s). It will be appreciated that constant regions of any isotype can be used for this purpose, including IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE constant regions, and that such constant regions can be obtained from any human or animal species. Preferably, the constant domain sequence is human in origin. Suitable human constant domain sequences can be obtained from Kabat et al. (supra).

In a preferred embodiment, the humanized antibody or antibody fragment comprises a 6G4.2.5HV11A variant in a heavy chain variable domain that is fused to a heavy chain constant domain containing a leucine zipper sequence. The leucine zipper can increase the affinity or production efficiency of the antibody or antibody fragment of interest. Suitable leucine zipper sequences include the jun and fos leucine zippers taught by Kostelney et al., J. Immunol., 148: 1547-1553 (1992) and the GCN4 leucine zipper described in the Examples below.

C. Bispecific Antibodies

Bispecific antibodies are monoclonal, preferably human or humanized, antibodies that have binding specificities for at least two different antigens. In the present case, one of the binding specificities is for IL-8, the other one is for any other antigen. For example, bispecific antibodies specifically binding a IL-8 and neurotrophic factor, or two different types of IL-8 polypeptides are within the scope of the present invention.

Methods for making bispecific antibodies are known in the art. Traditionally, the recombinant production of bispecific antibodies is based on the co-expression of two immunoglobulin heavy chain-light chain pairs, where the two heavy chains have different specificities (Milstein and Cuello, Nature 305:537 (1983)). Because of the random assortment of immunoglobulin heavy and light chains, these hybridomas (quadromas) produce a potential mixture of 10 different antibody molecules, of which only one has the correct bispecific structure. The purification of the correct molecule, which is usually done by affinity chromatography steps, is rather cumbersome, and the product yields are low. Similar procedures are disclosed in WO 93/08829 published May 13, 1993, and in Traunecker et al., EMBO J. 10:3655 (1991).

According to a different and more preferred approach, antibody-variable domains with the desired binding specificities (antibody-antigen combining sites) are fused to immunoglobulin constant-domain sequences. The fusion preferably is with an immunoglobulin heavy-chain constant domain, comprising at least part of the hinge, CH2, and CH3 regions. It is preferred to have the first heavy-chain constant region (CH1), containing the site necessary for light-chain binding, present in at least one of the fusions. DNAs encoding the immunoglobulin heavy chain fusions and, if desired, the immunoglobulin light chain, are inserted into separate expression vectors, and are co-transfected into a suitable host organism. This provides for great flexibility in adjusting the mutual proportions of the three polypeptide fragments in embodiments when unequal ratios of the three polypeptide chains used in the construction provide the maximum yields. It is, however, possible to insert the coding sequences for two or all three polypeptide chains in one expression vector when the production of at least two polypeptide chains in equal ratios results in high yields or when the ratios are of no particular significance. In a preferred embodiment of this approach, the bispecific antibodies are composed of a hybrid immunoglobulin heavy chain with a first binding specificity in one arm, and a hybrid immunoglobulin heavy chain-light chain pair (providing a second binding specificity) in the other arm. This asymmetric structure facilitates the separation of the desired bispecific compound from unwanted immunoglobulin chain combinations, as the presence of an immunoglobulin light chain in only one half of the bispecific molecule provides for a facile way of separation. For further details of generating bispecific antibodies, see, for example, Suresh et al., Methods in Enzymology 121:210 (1986).

D. Heteroconjugate Antibodies

Heteroconjugate antibodies are also within the scope of the present invention. Heteroconjugate antibodies are composed of two covalently joined antibodies. Such antibodies have, for example, been proposed to target immune system cells to unwanted cells (U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,980), and for treatment of HIV infection (WO 91/00360; WO 92/00373; and EP 03089). Heteroconjugate antibodies can be made using any convenient cross-linking methods. Suitable cross-linking agents are well known in the art, and are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,980, along with a number of cross-linking techniques.

3. Production of Humanized Anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5 Monoclonal Antibody, Antibody Fragments, and Variants

The antibodies and antibody fragments of the invention can be produced using any convenient antibody manufacturing process known in the art. Typically, the antibody or antibody fragment is made using recombinant expression systems. A multiple polypeptide chain antibody or antibody fragment species can be made in a single host cell expression system wherein the host cell produces each chain of the antibody or antibody fragment and assembles the polypeptide chains into a multimeric structure to form the antibody or antibody fragment in vivo, followed by recovery of the antibody or antibody fragment from the host cell. For example, suitable recombinant expression systems for the production of complete antibody or antibody fragment are described in Lucas et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 24: 1774-1779 (1996). Alternatively, the separate polypeptide chains of the desired antibody or antibody fragment can be made in separate expression host cells, separately recovered from the respective host cells, and then mixed in vitro under conditions permitting the formation of the multi-subunit antibody or antibody fragment of interest. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567 to Cabilly et al. and Carter et al., Bio/Technology, 10: 163-167 (1992) provide methods for recombinant production of antibody heavy and light chains in separate expression hosts followed by assembly of antibody from separate heavy and light chains in vitro.

The following discussion of recombinant expression methods applies equally to the production of single chain antibody polypeptide species and multi-subunit antibody and antibody fragment species. All recombinant procedures for the production of antibody or antibody fragment provided below shall be understood to describe: (1) manufacture of single chain antibody species as the desired end-product; (2) manufacture of multi-subunit antibody or antibody fragment species by production of all subunits in a single host cell, subunit assembly in the host cell, optionally followed by host cell secretion of the multi-subunit end-product into the culture medium, and recovery of the multi-subunit end-product from the host cell and/or culture medium; and (3) manufacture of multi-subunit antibody or antibody fragment by production of subunits in separate host cells (optionally followed by host cell secretion of subunits into the culture medium), recovery of subunits from the respective host cells and/or culture media, followed by in vitro subunit assembly to form the multi-subunit end-product. In the case of a multi-subunit antibody or antibody fragment produced in a single host cell, it will be appreciated that production of the various subunits can be effected by expression of multiple polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid sequences carried on a single vector or by expression of polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid sequences carried on multiple vectors contained in the host cell.

A. Construction of DNA Encoding Humanized 6G4.2.5 Monoclonal Antibodies, Antibody Fragments, and Variants

Following the selection of the humanized antibody or antibody fragment of the invention according to the methods described above, the practitioner can use the genetic code to design DNAs encoding the desired antibody or antibody fragment. In one embodiment, codons preferred by the expression host cell are used in the design of a DNA encoding the antibody or antibody fragment of interest. DNA encoding the desired antibody or antibody fragment can be prepared by a variety of methods known in the art. These methods include, but are not limited to, chemical synthesis by any of the methods described in Engels et al., Agnew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 28: 716-734 (1989), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, such as the triester, phosphite, phosphoramidite and H-phosphonate methods.

A variation on the above procedures contemplates the use of gene fusions, wherein the gene(s) encoding the antibody or antibody fragment is associated, in the vector, with a gene encoding another protein or a fragment of another protein. This results in the antibody or antibody fragment being produced by the host cell as a fusion with another protein. The "other" protein is often a protein or peptide which can be secreted by the cell, making it possible to isolate and purify the desired protein from the culture medium and eliminating the necessity of destroying the host cells which arises when the desired protein remains inside the cell. Alternatively, the fusion protein can be expressed intracellularly. It is advantageous to use fusion proteins that are highly expressed.

The use of gene fusions, though not essential, can facilitate the expression of heterologous proteins in E. coli as well as the subsequent purification of those gene products (Harris, T. J. R. in Genetic Engineering, Williamson, R., Ed., Academic, London, Vol. 4, p. 127(1983); Uhlen, M. & Moks, T., Methods Enzymol. 185:129-143 (1990)). Protein A fusions are often used because the binding of protein A, or more specifically the Z domain of protein A, to IgG provides an "affinity handle" for the purification of the fused protein (Nilsson, B. & Abrahmsen, L. Methods Enzymol. 185:144-161 (1990)). It has also been shown that many heterologous proteins are degraded when expressed directly in E. coli, but are stable when expressed as fusion proteins (Marston, F. A. O., Biochem J. 240: 1 (1986)).

Fusion proteins can be cleaved using chemicals, such as cyanogen bromide, which cleaves at a methionine, or hydroxylamine, which cleaves between an Asn and Gly. Using standard recombinant DNA methodology, the nucleotide base pairs encoding these amino acids may be inserted just prior to the 5' end of the antibody or antibody fragment gene(s).

Alternatively, one can employ proteolytic cleavage of fusion proteins, which has been recently reviewed (Carter, P. (1990) in Protein Purification: From Molecular Mechanisms to Large-Scale Processes, Ladisch, M. R., Willson, R. C., Painton, C. C., and Builder, S. E., eds., American Chemical Society Symposium Series No. 427, Ch 13, 181-193).

Proteases such Factor Xa, thrombin, subtilisin and mutants thereof, have been successfully used to cleave fusion proteins. Typically, a peptide linker that is amenable to cleavage by the protease used is inserted between the "other" protein (e.g., the Z domain of protein A) and the protein of interest, such as humanized anti-IL-8 antibody or antibody fragment. Using recombinant DNA methodology, the nucleotide base pairs encoding the linker are inserted between the genes or gene fragments coding for the other proteins. Proteolytic cleavage of the partially purified fusion protein containing the correct linker can then be carried out on either the native fusion protein, or the reduced or denatured fusion protein.

Various techniques are also available which may now be employed to produce variant humanized antibodies or antibody fragments, which encodes for additions, deletions, or changes in amino acid sequence of the resultant protein(s) relative to the parent humanized antibody or antibody fragment.

By way of illustration, with expression vectors encoding humanized antibody or antibody fragment in hand, site specific mutagenesis (Kunkel et al., Methods Enzymol. 204:125-139 (1991); Carter, P., et al., Nucl. Acids. Res. 13:4331 (1986); Zoller, M. J. et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 10:6487 (1982)), cassette mutagenesis (Wells, J. A., et al.,Gene 34:315 (1985)), restriction selection mutagenesis (Wells, J. A., et al., Philos. Trans, R. Soc. London SerA 317, 415 (1986)) or other known techniques may be performed on the antibody or antibody fragment DNA. The variant DNA can then be used in place of the parent DNA by insertion into the aforementioned expression vectors. Growth of host bacteria containing the expression vectors with the mutant DNA allows the production of variant humanized antibodies or antibody fragments, which can be isolated as described herein.

B. Insertion of DNA into a Cloning Vehicle

The DNA encoding the antibody or antibody fragment is inserted into a replicable vector for further cloning (amplification of the DNA) or for expression. Many vectors are available, and selection of the appropriate vector will depend on (1) whether it is to be used for DNA amplification or for DNA expression, (2) the size of the DNA to be inserted into the vector, and (3) the host cell to be transformed with the vector. Each vector contains various components depending on its function (amplification of DNA or expression of DNA) and the host cell for which it is compatible. The vector components generally include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: a signal sequence, an origin of replication, one or more marker genes, an enhancer element, a promoter, and a transcription termination sequence.

(i) Signal Sequence Component

In general, a signal sequence may be a component of the vector, or it may be a part of the antibody or antibody fragment DNA that is inserted into the vector. Preferably, a heterologous signal sequence selected and fused to the antibody or antibody fragment DNA such that the signal sequence in the corresponding fusion protein is recognized, transported and processed (i.e., cleaved by a signal peptidase) in the host cell's protein secretion system. In the case of prokaryotic host cells, the signal sequence is selected, for example, from the group of the alkaline phosphatase, penicillinase, lpp, or heat-stable enterotoxin II leaders. In a preferred embodiment, the STII signal sequence is used as described in the Examples below. For yeast secretion the native signal sequence may be substituted by, e.g., the yeast invertase leader, α factor leader (including Saccharomyces and Kluyveromyces α-factor leaders), or acid phosphatase leader, the C. albicans glucoamylase leader, or the signal described in WO 90/13646. In mammalian cell expression, mammalian signal sequences as well as viral secretory leaders, for example, the herpes simplex gD signal, are available.

(ii) Origin of Replication Component

Both expression and cloning vectors contain a nucleic acid sequence that enables the vector to replicate in one or more selected host cells. Generally, in cloning vectors this sequence is one that enables the vector to replicate independently of the host chromosomal DNA, and includes origins of replication or autonomously replicating sequences. Such sequences are well known for a variety of bacteria, yeast, and viruses. The origin of replication from the plasmid pBR322 is suitable for most Gram-negative bacteria, the 2μ plasmid origin is suitable for yeast, and various viral origins (SV40, polyoma, adenovirus, VSV or BPV) are useful for cloning vectors in mammalian cells. Generally, the origin of replication component is not needed for mammalian expression vectors (the SV40 origin may typically be used only because it contains the early promoter).

Most expression vectors are "shuttle" vectors, i.e. they are capable of replication in at least one class of organisms but can be transfected into another organism for expression. For example, a vector is cloned in E. coli and then the same vector is transfected into yeast or mammalian cells for expression even though it is not capable of replicating independently of the host cell chromosome.

DNA may also be amplified by insertion into the host genome. This is readily accomplished using Bacillus species as hosts, for example, by including in the vector a DNA sequence that is homologous to a sequence found in Bacillus genomic DNA. Transfection of Bacillus with this vector results in homologous recombination with the genome and insertion of the antibody or antibody fragment DNA.

(iii) Selection Gene Component

Expression and cloning vectors should contain a selection gene, also termed a selectable marker. This gene encodes a protein necessary for the survival or growth of transformed host cells grown in a selective culture medium. Host cells not transformed with the vector containing the selection gene will not survive in the culture medium. Typical selection genes encode proteins that (a) confer resistance to antibiotics or other toxins, e.g. ampicillin, neomycin, methotrexate, or tetracycline, (b) complement auxotrophic deficiencies, or (c) supply critical nutrients not available from complex media, e.g. the gene encoding D-alanine racemase for Bacilli.

One example of a selection scheme utilizes a drug to arrest growth of a host cell. Those cells that are successfully transformed with a heterologous gene express a protein conferring drug resistance and thus survive the selection regimen. Examples of such dominant selection use the drugs neomycin (Southern et al., J. Molec. Appl. Genet., 1: 327 (1982)), mycophenolic acid (Mulligan et al., Science, 209: 1422 (1980)) or hygromycin (Sugden et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 5: 410-413 (1985)). The three examples given above employ bacterial genes under eukaryotic control to convey resistance to the appropriate drug (G418 or neomycin (geneticin), xgpt (mycophenolic acid), and hygromycin, respectively.)

Another example of suitable selectable markers for mammalian cells are those that enable the identification of cells competent to take up the antibody or antibody fragment nucleic acid, such as dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) or thymidine kinase. The mammalian cell transformants are placed under selection pressure which only the transformants are uniquely adapted to survive by virtue of having taken up the marker. Selection pressure is imposed by culturing the transformants under conditions in which the concentration of selection agent in the medium is successively changed, thereby leading to amplification of both the selection gene and the DNA that encodes the antibody or antibody fragment. Amplification is the process by which genes in greater demand for the production of a protein critical for growth are reiterated in tandem within the chromosomes of successive generations of recombinant cells. Increased quantities of the antibody or antibody fragment are synthesized from the amplified DNA.

For example, cells transformed with the DHFR selection gene are first identified by culturing all of the transformants in a culture medium that contains methotrexate (Mtx), a competitive antagonist of DHFR. An appropriate host cell when wild-type DHFR is employed is the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line deficient in DHFR activity, prepared and propagated as described by Urlaub and Chasin, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 77: 4216 (1980). The transformed cells are then exposed to increased levels of methotrexate. This leads to the synthesis of multiple copies of the DHFR gene, and, concomitantly, multiple copies of other DNA comprising the expression vectors, such as the DNA encoding the antibody or antibody fragment. This amplification technique can be used with any otherwise suitable host, e.g., ATCC No. CCL61 CHO-K1, notwithstanding the presence of endogenous DHFR if, for example, a mutant DHFR gene that is highly resistant to Mtx is employed (EP 117,060). Alternatively, host cells (particularly wild-type hosts that contain endogenous DHFR) transformed or co-transformed with DNA sequences encoding the antibody or antibody fragment, wild-type DHFR protein, and another selectable marker such as aminoglycoside 3' phosphotransferase (APH) can be selected by cell growth in medium containing a selection agent for the selectable marker such as an aminoglycosidic antibiotic, e.g., kanamycin, neomycin, or G418. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,199.

A suitable selection gene for use in yeast is the trp1 gene present in the yeast plasmid YRp7. Stinchcomb et al., Nature, 282: 39 (1979); Kingsman et al., Gene, 7: 141 (1979); or Tschemper et al., Gene, 10: 157 (1980). The trp1 gene provides a selection marker for a mutant strain of yeast lacking the ability to grow in tryptophan, for example, ATCC No. 44076 or PEP4-1. Jones, Genetics, 85: 12 (1977). The presence of the trp1 lesion in the yeast host cell genome then provides an effective environment for detecting transformation by growth in the absence of tryptophan. Similarly, Leu2-deficient yeast strains (ATCC 20,622 or 38,626) are complemented by known plasmids bearing the Leu2 gene.

(iv) Promoter Component

Expression vectors usually contain a promoter that is recognized by the host organism and is operably linked to the antibody or antibody fragment nucleic acid. Promoters are untranslated sequences located upstream (5') to the start codon of a structural gene (generally within about 100 to 1000 bp) that control the transcription and translation of a particular nucleic acid sequence, such as the antibody or antibody fragment encoding sequence, to which they are operably linked. Such promoters typically fall into two classes, inducible and constitutive. Inducible promoters are promoters that initiate increased levels of transcription from DNA under their control in response to some change in culture conditions, e.g. the presence or absence of a nutrient or a change in temperature. At this time a large number of promoters recognized by a variety of potential host cells are well known.

Promoters suitable for use with prokaryotic hosts include the β-lactamase and lactose promoter systems (Chang et al., Nature, 275: 615 (1978); and Goeddel et al., Nature, 281: 544 (1979)), alkaline phosphatase, a tryptophan (trp) promoter system (Goeddel, Nucleic Acids Res., 8: 4057 (1980) and EP 36,776) and hybrid promoters such as the tac promoter (deBoer et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 80: 21-25 (1983)). However, other known bacterial promoters are suitable. Their nucleotide sequences have been published, thereby enabling a skilled worker to operably ligate them to DNA encoding the antibody or antibody fragment (Siebenlist et al., Cell, 20: 269 (1980)) using linkers or adaptors to supply any required restriction sites. Promoters for use in bacterial systems also generally will contain a Shine-Dalgarno (S.D.) sequence operably linked to the DNA encoding the antibody or antibody fragment.

Suitable promoting sequences for use with yeast hosts include the promoters for 3-phosphoglycerate kinase (Hitzeman et al., J. Biol. Chem., 255: 2073 (1980)) or other glycolytic enzymes (Hess et al., J. Adv. Enzyme Reg., 7: 149 (1968); and Holland, Biochemistry, 17: 4900 (1978)), such as enolase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, hexokinase, pyruvate decarboxylase, phosphofructokinase, glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, 3-phosphoglycerate mutase, pyruvate kinase, triosephosphate isomerase, phosphoglucose isomerase, and glucokinase.

Other yeast promoters, which are inducible promoters having the additional advantage of transcription controlled by growth conditions, are the promoter regions for alcohol dehydrogenase 2, isocytochrome C, acid phosphatase, degradative enzymes associated with nitrogen metabolism, metallothionein, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and enzymes responsible for maltose and galactose utilization. Suitable vectors and promoters for use in yeast expression are further described in Hitzeman et al., EP 73,657A. Yeast enhancers also are advantageously used with yeast promoters.

Promoter sequences are known for eukaryotes. Virtually all eukaryotic genes have an AT-rich region located approximately 25 to 30 bases upstream from the site where transcription is initiated. Another sequence found 70 to 80 bases upstream from the start of transcription of many genes is a CXCAAT region where X may be any nucleotide. At the 3' end of most eukaryotic genes is an AATAAA sequence that may be the signal for addition of the poly A tail to the 3' end of the coding sequence. All of these sequences are suitably inserted into mammalian expression vectors.

Vector driven transcription of antibody or antibody fragment encoding DNA in mammalian host cells can be controlled by promoters obtained from the genomes of viruses such as polyoma virus, fowlpox virus (UK 2,211,504 published Jul. 5, 1989), adenovirus (such as Adenovirus 2), bovine papilloma virus, avian sarcoma virus, cytomegalovirus, a retrovirus, hepatitis-B virus and most preferably Simian Virus 40 (SV40), from heterologous mammalian promoters, e.g. the actin promoter or an immunoglobulin promoter, and from heat-shock promoters, provided such promoters are compatible with the host cell systems.

The early and late promoters of the SV40 virus are conveniently obtained as an SV40 restriction fragment that also contains the SV40 viral origin of replication. Fiers et al., Nature, 273: 113 (1978); Mulligan and Berg, Science, 209: 1422-1427 (1980); Pavlakis et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 78: 7398-7402 (1981). The immediate early promoter of the human cytomegalovirus is conveniently obtained as a HindIII E restriction fragment. Greenaway et al., Gene, 18: 355-360 (1982). A system for expressing DNA in mammalian hosts using the bovine papilloma virus as a vector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,446. A modification of this system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,978. See also Gray et al., Nature, 295: 503-508 (1982) on expressing cDNA encoding immune interferon in monkey cells, Reyes et al., Nature, 297: 598-601 (1982) on expression of human-interferon cDNA in mouse cells under the control of a thymidine kinase promoter from herpes simplex virus, Canaani and Berg, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 79: 5166-5170 (1982) on expression of the human interferon 1 gene in cultured mouse and rabbit cells, and Gorman et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 79: 6777-6781 (1982) on expression of bacterial CAT sequences in CV-1 monkey kidney cells, chicken embryo fibroblasts, Chinese hamster ovary cells, HeLa cells, and mouse NIH-3T3 cells using the Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat as a promoter.

(v) Enhancer Element Component

Transcription of a DNA encoding antibody or antibody fragment by higher eukaryotic host cells is often increased by inserting an enhancer sequence into the vector. Enhancers are cis-acting elements of DNA, usually about from 10-300 bp, that act on a promoter to increase its transcription. Enhancers are relatively orientation and position independent having been found 5' (Laimins et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 78: 993 (1981)) and 3' (Lusky et al., Mol. Cell Bio., 3: 1108 (1983)) to the transcription unit, within an intron (Banerji et al., Cell, 33: 729 (1983)) as well as within the coding sequence itself (Osborne et al., Mol. Cell Bio., 4: 1293 (1984)). Many enhancer sequences are now known from mammalian genes (globin, elastase, albumin, -fetoprotein and insulin). Typically, however, one will use an enhancer from a eukaryotic cell virus. Examples include the SV40 enhancer on the late side of the replication origin (bp 100-270), the cytomegalovirus early promoter enhancer, the polyoma enhancer on the late side of the replication origin, and adenovirus enhancers. See also Yaniv, Nature, 297: 17-18 (1982) on enhancing elements for activation of eukaryotic promoters. The enhancer may be spliced into the vector at a position 5' or 3' to the antibody or antibody fragment DNA, but is preferably located at a site 5' from the promoter.

(vi) Transcription Termination Component

Expression vectors used in eukaryotic host cells (yeast, fungi, insect, plant, animal, human, or nucleated cells from other multicellular organisms) can also contain sequences necessary for the termination of transcription and for stabilizing the mRNA. Such sequences are commonly available from the 5' and, occasionally 3' untranslated regions of eukaryotic or viral DNAs or cDNAs. These regions contain nucleotide segments transcribed as polyadenylated fragments in the untranslated portion of the mRNA encoding the antibody or antibody fragment. The 3' untranslated regions also include transcription termination sites.

Suitable vectors containing one or more of the above listed components and the desired coding and control sequences are constructed by standard ligation techniques. Isolated plasmids or DNA fragments are cleaved, tailored, and religated in the form desired to generate the plasmids required.

For analysis to confirm correct sequences in plasmids constructed, the ligation mixtures are used to transform E. coli K12 strain 294 (ATCC 31,446) and successful transformants selected by ampicillin or tetracycline resistance where appropriate. Plasmids from the transformants are prepared, analyzed by restriction endonuclease digestion, and/or sequenced by the method of Messing et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 9: 309 (1981) or by the method of Maxam et al., Methods in Enzymology, 65: 499 (1980).

Particularly useful in the practice of this invention are expression vectors that provide for the transient expression in mammalian cells of DNA encoding the antibody or antibody fragment. In general, transient expression involves the use of an expression vector that is able to replicate efficiently in a host cell, such that the host cell accumulates many copies of the expression vector and, in turn, synthesizes high levels of a desired polypeptide encoded by the expression vector.

Other methods, vectors, and host cells suitable for adaptation to the synthesis of the antibody or antibody fragment in recombinant vertebrate cell culture are described in Gething et al., Nature, 293: 620-625 (1981); Mantei et al., Nature, 281: 40-46 (1979); Levinson et al., EP 117,060; and EP 117,058. A particularly useful plasmid for mammalian cell culture expression of the IgE peptide antagonist is pRK5 (EP pub. no. 307,247) or pSV16B (PCT pub. no. WO 91/08291 published Jun. 13, 1991).

C. Selection and Transformation of Host Cells

Suitable host cells for cloning or expressing the vectors herein are the prokaryote, yeast, or higher eukaryote cells described above. Suitable prokaryotes include eubacteria, such as Gram-negative or Gram-positive organisms, for example, E. coli, Bacilli such as B. subtilis, Pseudomonas species such as P. aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, or Serratia marcescens. One preferred E. coli cloning host is E. coli 294 (ATCC 31,446), although other strains such as E. coli B, E. coli 1776 (ATCC 31,537), and E. coli W3110 (ATCC 27,325) are suitable. These examples are illustrative rather than limiting. Preferably the host cell should secrete minimal amounts of proteolytic enzymes. In a preferred embodiment, the E. coli strain 49D6 is used as the expression host as described in the Examples below. Review articles describing the recombinant production of antibodies in bacterial host cells include Skerra et al., Curr. Opinion in Immunol., 5: 256 (1993) and Pluckthun, Immunol. Revs., 130: 151 (1992).

In addition to prokaryotes, eukaryotic microbes such as filamentous fungi or yeast are suitable hosts for vectors containing antibody or antibody fragment DNA. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or common baker's yeast, is the most commonly used among lower eukaryotic host microorganisms. However, a number of other genera, species, and strains are commonly available and useful herein, such as S. pombe (Beach and Nurse, Nature, 290: 140 (1981)), Kluyveromyces lactis (Louvencourt et al., J. Bacteriol., 737 (1983)), yarrowia (EP 402,226), Pichia pastoris (EP 183,070), Trichoderma reesia (EP 244,234), Neurospora crassa (Case et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 76: 5259-5263 (1979)), and Aspergillus hosts such as A. nidulans (Ballance et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 112: 284-289 (1983); Tilburn et al., Gene, 26: 205-221 (1983); Yelton et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 81: 1470-1474 (1984)) and A. niger (Kelly and Hynes, EMBO J., 4: 475-479 (1985)).

Host cells derived from multicellular organisms can also be used in the recombinant production of antibody or antibody fragment. Such host cells are capable of complex processing and glycosylation activities. In principle, any higher eukaryotic cell culture is workable, whether from vertebrate or invertebrate culture. Examples of invertebrate cells include plant and insect cells. Numerous baculoviral strains and variants and corresponding permissive insect host cells from hosts such as Spodoptera frugiperda (caterpillar), Aedes aegypti (mosquito), Aedes albopictus (mosquito), Drosophila melanogaster (fruitfly), and Bombyx mori host cells have been identified. See, e.g., Luckow et al., Bio/Technology, 6: 47-55 (1988); Miller et al., in Genetic Engineering, Setlow, J. K. et al, 8: 277-279 (Plenum Publishing, 1986), and Maeda et al., Nature, 315: 592-594 (1985). A variety of such viral strains are publicly available, e.g., the L-1 variant of Autographa californica NPV and the Bm-5 strain of Bombyx mori NPV, and such viruses may be used as the virus herein according to the present invention, particularly for transfection of Spodoptera frugiperda cells.

Plant cell cultures of cotton, corn, potato, soybean, petunia, tomato, and tobacco can be utilized as hosts. Typically, plant cells are transfected by incubation with certain strains of the bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens, which has been previously manipulated to contain the antibody or antibody fragment DNA. During incubation of the plant cell culture with A. tumefaciens, the DNA encoding antibody or antibody fragment is transferred to the plant cell host such that it is transfected, and will, under appropriate conditions, express the antibody or antibody fragment DNA. In addition, regulatory and signal sequences compatible with plant cells are available, such as the nopaline synthase promoter and polyadenylation signal sequences. Depicker et al., J. Mol. Appl. Gen., 1: 561 (1982). In addition, DNA segments isolated from the upstream region of the T-DNA 780 gene are capable of activating or increasing transcription levels of plant-expressible genes in recombinant DNA-containing plant tissue. See EP 321,196 published Jun. 21, 1989.

Vertebrate cell culture is preferred for the recombinant production of full length antibodies. The propagation of vertebrate cells in culture (tissue culture) has become a routine procedure in recent years (Tissue Culture, Academic Press, Kruse and Patterson, editors (1973)). Examples of useful mammalian host cell lines are monkey kidney CV1 line transformed by SV40 (COS-7, ATCC CRL1651); human embryonic kidney line (293 or 293 cells subcloned for growth in suspension culture, Graham et al., J. Gen Virol., 36: 59 (1977)); baby hamster kidney cells (BHK, ATCC CCL 10); Chinese hamster ovary cells/-DHFR (CHO, Urlaub and Chasin, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 77: 4216 (1980)); mouse sertoli cells (TM4, Mather, Biol. Reprod., 23: 243-251 (1980)); monkey kidney cells (CV1 ATCC CCL 70); African green monkey kidney cells (VERO-76, ATCC CRL-1587); human cervical carcinoma cells (HELA, ATCC CCL 2); canine kidney cells (MDCK, ATCC CCL 34); buffalo rat liver cells (BRL 3A, ATCC CRL 1442); human lung cells (W138, ATCC CCL 75); human liver cells (Hep G2, HB 8065); mouse mammary tumor (MMT 060562, ATCC CCL 51); TRI cells (Mather et al., Annals N.Y. Acad. Sci., 383: 44-68 (1982)); MRC 5 cells; FS4 cells; and a human hepatoma cell line (Hep G2). Preferred host cells are human embryonic kidney 293 and Chinese hamster ovary cells. Myeloma cells that do not otherwise produce immunoglobulin protein are also useful host cells for the recombinant production of full length antibodies.

Host cells are transfected and preferably transformed with the above-described expression or cloning vectors of this invention and cultured in conventional nutrient media modified as appropriate for inducing promoters, selecting transformants, or amplifying the genes encoding the desired sequences.

Transfection refers to the taking up of an expression vector by a host cell whether or not any coding sequences are in fact expressed. Numerous methods of transfection are known to the ordinarily skilled artisan, for example, CaPO₄ precipitation and electroporation. Successful transfection is generally recognized when any indication of the operation of this vector occurs within the host cell.

Transformation means introducing DNA into an organism so that the DNA is replicable, either as an extrachromosomal element or by chromosomal integrant. Depending on the host cell used, transformation is done using standard techniques appropriate to such cells. The calcium treatment employing calcium chloride, as described in section 1.82 of Sambrook et al., supra, is generally used for prokaryotes or other cells that contain substantial cell-wall barriers. Infection with Agrobacterium tumefaciens is used for transformation of certain plant cells, as described by Shaw et al., Gene, 23: 315 (1983) and WO 89/05859 published Jun. 29, 1989. For mammalian cells without such cell walls, the calcium phosphate precipitation method described in sections 16.30-16.37 of Sambrook et al., supra, is preferred. General aspects of mammalian cell host system transformations have been described by Axel in U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,216 issued Aug. 16, 1983. Transformations into yeast are typically carried out according to the method of Van Solingen et al., J. Bact., 130: 946 (1977) and Hsiao et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA), 76: 3829 (1979). However, other methods for introducing DNA into cells such as by nuclear injection, electroporation, or by protoplast fusion may also be used.

D. Culturing the Host Cells

Prokaryotic cells used to produce the antibody or antibody fragment are cultured in suitable media as described generally in Sambrook et al., supra.

The mammalian host cells used to produce the antibody or antibody fragment can be cultured in a variety of media. Commercially available media such as Ham's F10 (Sigma), Minimal Essential Medium ((MEM), Sigma), RPMI-1640 (Sigma), and Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium ((DMEM), Sigma) are suitable for culturing the host cells. In addition, any of the media described in Ham and Wallace, Meth. Enz. 58: 44 (1979), Barnes and Sato, Anal. Biochem., 102: 255 (1980), U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,767,704; 4,657,866; 4,927,762; or 4,560,655; WO 90/03430; WO 87/00195; U.S. Pat. No. Re. 30,985; or U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,469, the disclosures of all of which are incorporated herein by reference, may be used as culture media for the host cells. Any of these media may be supplemented as necessary with hormones and/or other growth factors (such as insulin, transferrin, or epidermal growth factor), salts (such as sodium chloride, calcium, magnesium, and phosphate), buffers (such as HEPES), nucleosides (such as adenosine and thymidine), antibiotics (such as Gentamycin™ drug), trace elements (defined as inorganic compounds usually present at final concentrations in the micromolar range), and glucose or an equivalent energy source. Any other necessary supplements may also be included at appropriate concentrations that would be known to those skilled in the art. The culture conditions, such as temperature, pH, and the like, are those previously used with the host cell selected for expression, and will be apparent to the ordinarily skilled artisan.

The host cells referred to in this disclosure encompass cells in in vitro culture as well as cells that are within a host animal.

E. Detecting Gene Amplification/Expression

Gene amplification and/or expression may be measured in a sample directly, for example, by conventional Southern blotting, northern blotting to quantitate the transcription of mRNA (Thomas, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 77: 5201-5205 (1980)), dot blotting (DNA analysis), or in situ hybridization, using an appropriately labeled probe, based on the sequences provided herein. Various labels may be employed, most commonly radioisotopes, particularly ³² P. However, other techniques may also be employed, such as using biotin-modified nucleotides for introduction into a polynucleotide. The biotin then serves as the site for binding to avidin or antibodies, which may be labeled with a wide variety of labels, such as radionuclides, fluorescers, enzymes, or the like. Alternatively, antibodies may be employed that can recognize specific duplexes, including DNA duplexes, RNA duplexes, and DNA-RNA hybrid duplexes or DNA-protein duplexes. The antibodies in turn may be labeled and the assay may be carried out where the duplex is bound to a surface, so that upon the formation of duplex on the surface, the presence of antibody bound to the duplex can be detected.

Gene expression, alternatively, may be measured by immunological methods, such as immunohistochemical staining of tissue sections and assay of cell culture or body fluids, to quantitate directly the expression of gene product. With immunohistochemical staining techniques, a cell sample is prepared, typically by dehydration and fixation, followed by reaction with labeled antibodies specific for the gene product, where the labels are usually visually detectable, such as enzymatic labels, fluorescent labels, luminescent labels, and the like. A particularly sensitive staining technique suitable for use in the present invention is described by Hsu et al., Am. J. Clin. Path., 75: 734-738 (1980).

F. Purification of the Antibody or Antibody Fragment

In the case of a host cell secretion system, the antibody or antibody fragment is recovered from the culture medium. Alternatively, the antibody can be produced intracellularly, or produced in the periplasmic space of a bacterial host cell. If the antibody is produced intracellularly, as a first step, the host cells are lysed, and the resulting particulate debris is removed, for example, by centrifugation or ultrafiltration. Carter et al., Bio/Technology 10: 163-167 (1992) describe a procedure for isolating antibodies which are secreted to the periplasmic space of E. coli. Briefly, cell paste is thawed in the presence of sodium acetate (pH 3.5), EDTA, and phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride (PMSF) over about 30 min. Cell debris can be removed by centrifugation. Where the antibody is secreted into the medium, supernatants from such expression systems are generally first concentrated using a commercially available protein concentration filter, for example, an Amicon or Millipore Pellicon ultrafiltration unit. A protease inhibitor such as PMSF may be included in any of the foregoing steps to inhibit proteolysis and antibiotics may be included to prevent the growth of adventitious contaminants.

The antibody composition prepared from the cells can be purified using, for example, hydroxylapatite chromatography, gel electrophoresis, dialysis, and affinity chromatography, with affinity chromatography being the preferred purification technique. The suitability of protein A as an affinity ligand depends on the species and isotype of any immunoglobulin Fc domain that is present in the antibody. Protein A can be used to purify antibodies that are based on human γ1, γ2, or γ4 heavy chains (Lindmark et al., J. Immunol. Meth. 62:1-13 (1983)). Protein G is recommended for all mouse isotypes and for human γ3 (Guss et al., EMBO J. 5:15671575 (1986)). The matrix to which the affinity ligand is attached is most often agarose, but other matrices are available. Mechanically stable matrices such as controlled pore glass or poly(styrenedivinyl)benzene allow for faster flow rates and shorter processing times than can be achieved with agarose. Where the antibody comprises a C_(H) 3 domain, the Bakerbond ABX™resin (J. T. Baker, Phillipsburg, N.J.) is useful for purification. Other techniques for protein purification such as fractionation on an ion-exchange column, ethanol precipitation, Reverse Phase HPLC, chromatography on silica, chromatography on heparin Sepharose™ chromatography on an anion or cation exchange resin (such as a polyaspartic acid column), chromatofocusing, SDS-PAGE, and ammonium sulfate precipitation are also available depending on the antibody to be recovered.

Following any preliminary purification step(s), the mixture comprising the antibody of interest and contaminants may be subjected to low pH hydrophobic interaction chromatography using an elution buffer at a pH between about 2.5-4.5, preferably performed at low salt concentrations (e.g. from about 0-0.25M salt).

G. Production of Antibody Fragments

Various techniques have been developed for the production of the humanized antibody fragments of the invention, including Fab, Fab', Fab'-SH, or F(ab')₂ fragments. Traditionally, these fragments were derived via proteolytic digestion of intact antibodies (see, e.g., Morimoto et al., Journal of Biochemical and Biophysical Methods 24:107-117 (1992) and Brennan et al., Science, 229:81 (1985)). However, these fragments can now be produced directly by recombinant host cells. For example, Fab'-SH fragments can be directly recovered from E. coli and chemically coupled to form F(ab')₂ fragments (Carter et al., Bio/Technology, 10:163-167 (1992)). According to another approach, F(ab')₂ fragments can be isolated directly from recombinant host cell culture. Other techniques for the production of antibody fragments will be apparent to the skilled practitioner.

4. Uses of Anti-IL-8 Antibodies

A. Diagnostic Uses

For diagnostic applications requiring the detection or quantitation of IL-8, the antibodies or antibody fragments of the invention typically will be labeled with a detectable moiety. The detectable moiety can be any one which is capable of producing, either directly or indirectly, a detectable signal. For example, the detectable moiety can be a radioisotope, such as ³ H, ¹⁴ C, ³² P, ³⁵ S, or ¹²⁵ I; a fluorescent or chemiluminescent compound, such as fluorescein isothiocyanate, rhodamine, or luciferin; radioactive isotopic labels, such as, e.g., ¹²⁵ I, ³² P, ¹⁴ C, or ³ H; or an enzyme, such as alkaline phosphatase, beta-galactosidase, or horseradish peroxidase.

Any method known in the art for separately conjugating the antibody or antibody fragment to the detectable moiety can be employed, including those methods described by Hunter et al., Nature 144:945 (1962); David et al., Biochemistry 13:1014 (1974); Pain et al., J. Immunol. Meth. 40:219 (1981); and Nygren, J. Histochem. and Cytochem. 30:407 (1982).

The antibodies and antibody fragments of the present invention can be employed in any known assay method, such as competitive binding assays, direct and indirect sandwich assays, and immunoprecipitation assays. For example, see Zola, Monoclonal Antibodies: A Manual of Techniques, pp. 147-158 (CRC Press, Inc., 1987).

Competitive binding assays rely on the ability of a labeled standard (which can be a IL-8 or an immunologically reactive portion thereof) to compete with the test sample analyte (IL-8) for binding with a limited amount of antibody or antibody fragment. The amount of IL-8 in the test sample is inversely proportional to the amount of standard that becomes bound to the antibodies. To facilitate determining the amount of standard that becomes bound, the antibodies or antibody fragments generally are insolubilized before or after the competition, so that the standard and analyte that are bound to the antibodies can conveniently be separated from the standard and analyte which remain unbound.

Sandwich assays involve the use of two antibodies, each capable of binding to a different antigenic portion, or epitope, of the protein (IL-8) to be detected. In a sandwich assay, the test sample analyte is bound by a first antibody which is immobilized on a solid support, and thereafter a second antibody binds to the analyte, thus forming an insoluble three-part complex (U.S. Pat. No. 4,376,110). The second antibody can itself be labeled with a detectable moiety (direct sandwich assays) or can be measured using an anti-immunoglobulin antibody that is labeled with a detectable moiety (indirect sandwich assay). For example, one type of sandwich assay is an ELISA assay, in which case the detectable moiety is an enzyme (e.g., horseradish peroxidase).

IL-8 antibodies and antibody fragments also are useful for the affinity purification of IL-8 from recombinant cell culture or natural sources. For example, these antibodies can be fixed to a solid support by techniques well known in the art so as to purify IL-8 from a source such as culture supernatant or tissue.

B. Therapeutic Compositions and Administration of Anti-IL-8 Antibody

The humanized anti-IL-8 antibodies and antibody fragments of the invention are useful in the treatment of inflammatory disorders, such as adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), hypovolemic shock, ulcerative colitis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Therapeutic formulations of the humanized anti-IL-8 antibodies and antibody fragments are prepared for storage by mixing the antibody or antibody fragment having the desired degree of purity with optional physiologically acceptable carriers, excipients, or stabilizers (Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, supra), in the form of lyophilized cake or aqueous solutions. Acceptable carriers, excipients or stabilizers are nontoxic to recipients at the dosages and concentrations employed, and include buffers such as phosphate, citrate, and other organic acids; antioxidants including ascorbic acid; low molecular weight (less than about 10 residues) polypeptides; proteins, such as serum albumin, gelatin, or immunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone; amino acids such as glycine, glutamine, asparagine, arginine or lysine; monosaccharides, disaccharides, and other carbohydrates including glucose, mannose, or dextrins; chelating agents such as EDTA; sugar alcohols such as mannitol or sorbitol; salt-forming counterions such as sodium; and/or nonionic surfactants such as Tween, Pluronics or polyethylene glycol (PEG).

The humanized anti-IL-8 mAb or antibody fragment to be used for in vivo administration must be sterile. This is readily accomplished by filtration through sterile filtration membranes, prior to or following lyophilization and reconstitution. The humanized anti-IL-8 mAb or antibody fragment ordinarily will be stored in lyophilized form or in solution.

Therapeutic humanized anti-IL-8 mAb or antibody fragment compositions generally are placed into a container having a sterile access port, for example, an intravenous solution bag or vial having a stopper pierceable by a hypodermic injection needle.

The route of humanized anti-IL-8 mAb or antibody fragment administration is in accord with known methods, e.g., inhalation, injection or infusion by intravenous, intraperitoneal, intracerebral, intramuscular, intraocular, intraarterial, or intralesional routes, by enema or suppository, or by sustained release systems as noted below. Preferably the antibody is given systemically or at a site of inflammation.

Suitable examples of sustained-release preparations include semipermeable polymer matrices in the form of shaped articles, e.g. films, or microcapsules. Sustained release matrices include polyesters, hydrogels, polylactides (U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,919, EP 58,481), copolymers of L-glutamic acid and gamma ethyl-L-glutamate (Sidman et al., Biopolymers 22:547 (1983)), poly (2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate) (Langer et al., J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 15:167 (198 1) and Langer, Chem. Tech. 12:98 (1982)), ethylene vinyl acetate (Langer et al., supra) or poly-D-(-)-3-hydroxybutyric acid (EP 133,988). Sustained-release humanized anti-IL-8 antibody or antibody fragment compositions also include liposomally entrapped antibody or antibody fragment. Liposomes containing an antibody or antibody fragment are prepared by methods known per se: DE 3,218,121; Epstein et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 82:3688 (1985); Hwang et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 77:4030 (1980); EP 52,322; EP 36,676; EP 88,046; EP 143,949; EP 142,641; Japanese patent application 83-118008; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,485,045 and 4,544,545; and EP 102,324. Ordinarily the liposomes are of the small (about 200-800 Angstroms) unilamelar type in which the lipid content is greater than about 30 mole percent cholesterol, the selected proportion being adjusted for the most efficacious antibody or antibody fragment therapy.

An "effective amount" of the humanized anti-IL-8 antibody or antibody fragment to be employed therapeutically will depend, for example, upon the therapeutic objectives, the route of administration, and the condition of the patient. Accordingly, it will be necessary for the therapist to titer the dosage and modify the route of administration as required to obtain the optimal therapeutic effect. Typically, the clinician will administer the humanized anti-IL-8 antibody or antibody fragment until a dosage is reached that achieves the desired effect. The progress of this therapy is easily monitored by conventional assays.

In the treatment and prevention of an inflammatory disorder with a humanized anti-IL-8 antibody or antibody fragment of the invention, the antibody composition will be formulated, dosed, and administered in a fashion consistent with good medical practice. Factors for consideration in this context include the particular disorder being treated, the particular mammal being treated, the clinical condition of the individual patient, the cause of the disorder, the site of delivery of the antibody, the particular type of antibody, the method of administration, the scheduling of administration, and other factors known to medical practitioners. The "therapeutically effective amount" of antibody to be administered will be governed by such considerations, and is the minimum amount necessary to prevent, ameliorate, or treat the inflammatory disorder, including treating acute or chronic respiratory diseases and reducing inflammatory responses. Such amount is preferably below the amount that is toxic to the host or renders the host significantly more susceptible to infections.

As a general proposition, the initial pharmaceutically effective amount of the antibody or antibody fragment administered parenterally per dose will be in the range of about 0.1 to 50 mg/kg of patient body weight per day, with the typical initial range of antibody used being 0.3 to 20 mg/kg/day, more preferably 0.3 to 15 mg/kg/day.

As noted above, however, these suggested amounts of antibody or antibody fragment are subject to a great deal of therapeutic discretion. The key factor in selecting an appropriate dose and scheduling is the result obtained, as indicated above.

The antibody or antibody fragment need not be, but is optionally formulated with one or more agents currently used to prevent or treat the inflammatory disorder in question. For example, in rheumatoid arthritis, the antibody can be given in conjunction with a glucocorticosteroid. The effective amount of such other agents depends on the amount of antibody or antibody fragment present in the formulation, the type of disorder or treatment, and other factors discussed above. These are generally used in the same dosages and with administration routes as used hereinbefore or about from 1 to 99% of the heretofore employed dosages.

The following examples are offered by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. The disclosures of all citations in the specification are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

EXAMPLES

A. Generation and Characterization of Monoclonal Antibodies Against Human IL-8

Balb/c mice were immunized in each hind footpad or intraperitoneally with 10 μg of recombinant human IL-8 (produced as a fusion of (ser-IL-8)₇₂ with ubiquitin (Hebert et al. J. Immunology 145:3033-3040 (1990)); IL-8 is available commercially from PeproTech, Inc., Rocky Hill, N.J.) resuspended in MPL/TDM (Ribi Immunochem. Research Inc., Hamilton, Mont.) and boosted twice with the same amount of IL-8. In these experiments, "IL-8" is intended to mean (ser-IL-8)₇₂ unless otherwise specified. A final boost of 10 μg of IL-8 was given 3 days before the fusion. Spleen cells or popliteal lymph node cells were fused with mouse myeloma P3X63Ag8U.1 (ATCC CRL1597), a non-secreting clone of the myeloma P3X63Ag8, using 35% polyethylene glycol as described before. Ten days after the fusion, culture supernatant was screened for the presence of monoclonal antibodies to IL-8 by ELISA.

The ELISA was performed as follows. Nunc 96-well immunoplates (Flow Lab, McLean, Va.) were coated with 50 μl/well of 2 μg/ml IL-8 in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) overnight at 4° C. The remaining steps were carried out at room temperature. Nonspecific binding sites were blocked with 0.5% bovine serum albumin (BSA) for 1 hour (hr). Plates were then incubated with 50 μl/well of hybridoma culture supernatants from 672 growing parental fusion wells for 1 hr, followed by the incubation with 50 μl/well of 1:1000 dilution of a 1 mg/ml stock solution of alkaline phosphatase-conjugated goat anti-mouse Ig (Tago Co., Foster City, Calif.) for 1 hr. The level of enzyme-linked antibody bound to the plate was determined by the addition of 100 μl/well of 0.5 mg/ml of r-nitrophenyl phosphate in sodium bicarbonate buffer, pH 9.6. The color reaction was measured at 405 nm with an ELISA plate reader (Titertrek Multiscan, Flow Lab, McLean, Va.). Between each step, plates were washed three times in PBS containing 0.05% Tween 20.

Culture supernatants which promoted 4-fold more binding of IL-8 than did control medium were selected as positives. According to this criterion, 16 of 672 growing parental fusion wells (2%) were positive. These positive hybridoma cell lines were cloned at least twice by using the limiting dilution technique.

Seven of the positive hybridomas were further characterized as follows. The isotypes of the monoclonal antibodies were determined by coating Nunc 96-well immunoplates (Flow Lab, McLean, Va.) with IL-8 overnight, blocking with BSA, incubating with culture supernatants followed by the addition of predetermined amount of isotype-specific alkaline phosphatase-conjugated goat anti-mouse Ig (Fisher Biotech, Pittsburgh, Pa.). The level of conjugated antibodies bound to the plate was determined by the addition of r-nitrophenyl phosphate as described above.

All the monoclonal antibodies tested belonged to either IgG, or IgG₂ immunoglobulin isotype. Ascites fluid containing these monoclonal antibodies had antibody titers in the range of 10,000 to 100,000 as determined by the reciprocal of the dilution factor which gave 50% of the maximum binding in the ELISA.

To assess whether these monoclonal antibodies bound to the same epitopes, a competitive binding ELISA was performed. At a ratio of biotinylated mAb to unlabeled mAb of 1:100, the binding of biotinylated mAb 5.12.14 was significantly inhibited by its homologous mAb but not by mAb 4.1.3, while the binding of biotinylated mAb 4.1.3 was inhibited by mAb 4.1.3 but not by mAb 5.12.14. Monoclonal antibody 5.2.3 behaved similarly to mAb 4.1.3, while monoclonal antibodies 4.8 and 12.3.9 were similar to mAb 5.12.14. Thus, mAb 4.1.3 and mAb 5.2.3 bind to a different epitope(s) than the epitope recognized by monoclonal antibodies 12.3.9, 4.8 and 5.12.14.

Immunodot blot analysis was performed to assess antibody reactivity to IL-8 immobilized on nitrocellulose paper. All seven antibodies recognized IL-8 immobilized on paper, whereas a control mouse IgG antibody did not.

The ability of these monoclonal antibodies to capture soluble ¹²⁵ I-IL-8 was assessed by a radioimmune precipitation test (RIP). Briefly, tracer ¹²⁵ I-IL-8 (4×10⁴ cpm) was incubated with various dilutions of the monoclonal anti-IL-8 antibodies in 0.2 ml of and 0.05% Tween 20 and 0.05% Tween 20 predetermined concentration of goat anti-mouse Ig antisera (Pel-Freez, Rogers, Ark.) were added and the mixture was incubated at room temperature for 1 hr. Immune complexes were precipitated by the addition of 0.5 ml of 6% polyethylene glycol (M.W. 8000) kept at 4° C. After centrifugation at 2,000×g for 20 min at 4° C., the supernatant was removed by aspiration and the radioactivity remaining in the pellet was counted in a gamma counter. Percent specific binding was calculated as (precipitated cpm-background cpm)/(total cpm-background cpm). Monoclonal antibodies 4.1.3, 5.2.3, 4.8, 5.12.14 and 12.3.9 captured ¹²⁵ I-IL-8 very efficiently, while antibodies 9.2.4 and 8.9.1 were not able to capture soluble ¹²⁵ I-IL-8 in the RIP even though they could bind to IL-8 coated onto ELISA plates (Table I).

The dissociation constants of these monoclonal antibodies were determined using a competitive binding RIP assay. Briefly, competitive inhibition of the binding each antibody to ¹²⁵ I-IL-8 (20,000-40,000 cpm per assay ) by various amounts of unlabeled IL-8 was determined by the RIP described above. The dissociation constant (affinity) of each mAb was determined by using Scatchard plot analysis (Munson, et al., Anal. Biochem. 107:220 (1980)) as provided in the VersaTerm-PRO computer program (Synergy Software, Reading, Pa.). The K_(d) 's of these monoclonal antibodies (with the exception of 9.2.4. and 8.9.1) were in the range from 2×10⁻⁸ to 3×10⁻¹⁰ M. Monoclonal antibody 5.12.14 with a K_(d) of 3×10⁻¹⁰ M showed the highest affinity among all the monoclonal antibodies tested (Table 3).

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         Characterization of Anti-IL-8 Monoclonal Antibodies                                        % Specific Binding to                                                Antibody IL-8 K.sub.d (M) Isotype pI                                         ______________________________________                                         4.1.3   58            2 × 10.sub.-9                                                                      IgG.sub.1                                                                            4.3-6.1                                    5.2.3 34 2 × 10.sub.-8 IgG.sub.1 5.2-5.6                                 9.2.4 1 -- IgG.sub.1 7.0-7.5                                                   8.9.1 2 -- IgG.sub.1 6.8-7.6                                                   4.8 62 3 × 10.sub.-8 IgG.sub.2a 6.1-7.1                                  5.12.14 98  3 × 10.sub.-10 IgG.sub.2a 6.2-7.4                            12.3.9 86 2 × 10.sub.-9 IgG.sub.2a 6.5-7.1                             ______________________________________                                    

To assess the ability of these monoclonal antibodies to neutralize IL-8 activity, the amount of ¹²⁵ I-IL-8 bound to human neutrophils in the presence of various amounts of culture supernatants and purified monoclonal antibodies was measured. Neutrophils were prepared by using Mono-Poly Resolving Medium (M-PRM) (Flow Lab. Inc., McLean, Va.). Briefly fresh, heparinized human blood was loaded onto M-PRM at a ratio of blood to medium, 3.5:3.0, and centrifuged at 300×g for 30 min at room temperature. Neutrophils enriched at the middle layer were collected and washed once in PBS. Such a preparation routinely contained greater than 95% neutrophils according to the Wright's Giemsa staining. The receptor binding assay was done as follows. 50 μl of ¹²⁵ I-IL-8 (5 ng/ml) was incubated with 50 μl of unlabeled IL-8 (100 μg/ml) or monoclonal antibodies in PBS containing 0.1% BSA for 30 min at room temperature. The mixture was then incubated with 100 μl of neutrophils (10⁷ cells/ml) for 15 min at 37° C. The ¹²⁵ I-IL-8 bound was separated from the unbound material by loading mixtures onto 0.4 ml of PBS containing 20% sucrose and 0.1% BSA and by centrifugation at 300×g for 15 min. The supernatant was removed by aspiration and the radioactivity associated with the pellet was counted in a gamma counter.

Monoclonal antibodies 4.1.3, 5.2.3, 4.8, 5.12.14, and 12.3.9 inhibited greater than 85% of the binding of IL-8 to human neutrophils at a 1:25 molar ratio of IL-8 to mAb. On the other hand, monoclonal antibodies 9.2.4 and 8.9.1 appeared to enhance the binding of IL-8 to its receptors on human neutrophils. Since a control mouse IgG also enhanced the binding of IL-8 on neutrophils, the enhancement of IL-8 binding to its receptors by mAb 9.2.4 and 8.9.1 appears to be nonspecific. Thus, monoclonal antibodies, 4.1.3, 5.1.3, 4.8, 5.12.14, and 12.3.9 are potential neutralizing monoclonal antibodies while monoclonal antibodies 8.9.1 and 9.2.4 are non-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies.

The ability of the anti-IL-8 antibodies to block neutrophil chemotaxis induced by IL-8 was tested as follows. Neutrophil chemotaxis induced by IL-8 was determined using a Boyden chamber method (Larsen, et al. Science 243:1464 (1989)). One hundred μl of human neutrophils (10⁶ cells/ml) resuspended in RPMI containing 0.1% BSA were placed in the upper chamber and 29 μl of the IL-8 (20 nM) with or without monoclonal antibodies were placed in the lower chamber. Cells were incubated for 1 hr at 37° C. Neutrophils migrated into the lower chamber were stained with Wright's Giemsa stain and counted under the microscope (100× magnification). Approximately 10 different fields per experimental group were examined. Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies 5.12.14 and 4.1.3 blocked almost 70% of the neutrophil chemotactic activity of IL-8 at 1:10 ratio of IL-8 to mAb.

The isoelectric focusing (IEF) pattern of each mAb was determined by applying purified antibodies on an IEF polyacrylamide gel (pH 3-9, Pharmacia) using the Fast gel system (Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.). The IEF gel was pretreated with pharmalyte containing 1% Triton X100 (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.) for 10 min before loading the samples. The IEF pattern was visualized by silver staining according to the instructions from the manufacturer. All of the monoclonal antibodies had different IEF patterns, confirming that they originated from different clones. The pI values for the antibodies are listed in Table 3.

All these monoclonal antibodies bound equally well to both (ala-IL-8)77 and (ser-IL-8)72 forms of IL-8. Because IL-8 has greater than 30% sequence homology with certain other members of the platelet factor 4 (PF4) family of inflammatory cytokines such as β-TG (Van Damme et al., Eur. J. Biochem. 181:337(1989); Tanaka et al., FEB 236(2):467 (1988)) and PF4 (Deuel et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 74:2256 (1977)), they were tested for possible cross reactivity to β-TG and PF4, as well as to another neutrophil activating factor, C5a. No detectable binding to any of these proteins was observed, with the exception of mAb 4.1.3, which had a slight cross reactivity to β-TG.

One of the antibodies, mAb 5.12.14, was further studied to determine whether it could block the IL-8 mediated release of elastase by neutrophils. Briefly, human neutrophils were resuspended in Hanks balanced salt solution (Gibco, Grand Island, N.Y.) containing 1.0% BSA, Fraction V (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.), 2 mg/ml alpha-D-glucose (Sigma), 4.2 mM sodium bicarbonate (Sigma) and 0.01 M HEPES, pH 7.1 (JRH Bioscience, Lenexa, Kans.). A stock of cytochalasin B (Sigma) was prepared (5 mg/ml in dimethylsulfoxide (Sigma) and stored at 2-8° C. Cytochalasin B was added to the neutrophil preparation to produce a final concentration of 5 μg/ml, and incubated for 15 min at 37° C. Human IL-8 was incubated with mAb 5.12.14 (20 μl), or a negative control antibody, in 1 ml polypropylene tubes (DBM Scientific, San Fernando, Calif.) for 30 min at 37° C. The final assay concentrations of IL-8 were 50 and 500 nM. The monoclonal antibodies were diluted to produce the following ratios (IL-8:Mab): 1:50, 1:10, 1:2, 1:1, and 1:0.25. Cytochalasin B-treated neutrophils were added (100 μl/tube) and incubated for 2 hours at 25° C. The tubes were centrifuged (210×g, 2-8° C.) for 10 min, and supernatants were transferred to 96 well tissue culture plates (30 μl/well). Elastase substrate stock, 10 mM methoxysuccinyl-alanyl-alanyl-propyl-valyl-p-nitroanilide (Calbiochem, La Jolla, Calif.) in DMSO was prepared and stored at 2-8° C. Elastase substrate solution (1.2 mM substrate, 1.2 M NaCl (Mallinckrodt, Paris, Ky.), 0.12 M HEPES pH 7.2 in distilled water) was added (170 μl/well) to the supernatants and incubated for 0.5 to 2 hours at 37° C. (until control O.D. of 1.0 was reached). Absorbance was measured at 405 nm (SLT 340 ATTC plate reader, SLT Lab Instruments, Austria).

The results are shown in FIG. 1. At a 1:1 ratio of IL-8 to mAb 5.12.14, the antibody was able to effectively block the release of elastase from neutrophils.

The hybridoma producing antibody 5.12.14 was deposited on Feb. 15, 1993 with the American Type Culture Collection, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md., U.S.A. (ATCC) and assigned ATTC Accession No. HB 11553.

B. Generation and Characterization of Monoclonal Antibodies Against Rabbit IL-8

Antibodies against rabbit IL-8 were generated in essentially the same process as anti-human IL-8 antibodies using rabbit IL-8 as immunogen (kindly provided by C. Broaddus; see also Yoshimura et al. J. Immunol. 146:3483 (1991)). The antibody was characterized as described above for binding to other cytokines coated onto ELISA plates; no measurable binding was found to MGSA, fMLP, C5a, b-TG, TNF, PF4, or IL-1.

The hybridoma producing antibody 6G4.2.5 was deposited on Sep. 28, 1994, with the American Type Culture Collection, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md., U.S.A. (ATCC) and assigned ATTC Accession No. HB 11722.

Recombinant human-murine chimeric Fabs for 5.12.14 and 6G4.2.5 were constructed as described below. A chimeric 6G.4.25 Fab is compared with a chimeric 5.12.14 Fab in detail below.

1. Inhibition of IL-8 Binding to Human Neutrophils by 5.12.14-Fab and 6G4.2.5-Fab

The ability of the two chimeric Fabs, 5.12.14-Fab and 6G4.2.5-Fab, to efficiently bind IL-8 and prevent IL-8 from binding to IL-8 receptors on human neutrophils was determined by performing a competition binding assay which allows the calculation of the IC₅₀ -concentration required to achieve 50% inhibition of IL-8 binding.

Human neutrophils (5×10⁵) were incubated for 1 hour at 4° C. with 0.5 nM ¹²⁵ I-IL-8 in the presence of various concentrations (0 to 300 nM) of 5.12.14-Fab, 6G4.2.5-Fab, an isotype control (4D5-Fab) or unlabeled IL-8. After the incubation, the unbound ¹²⁵ I-IL-8 was removed by centrifugation through a solution of 20% sucrose and 0.1% bovine serum albumin in phosphate buffered saline and the amount of ¹²⁵ I-IL-8 bound to the cells was determined by counting the cell pellets in a gamma counter. FIG. 2 demonstrates the inhibition of ¹²⁵ I-IL-8 binding to neutrophils by unlabeled IL-8. FIG. 3 demonstrates that a negative isotype matched Fab does not inhibit the binding of ¹²⁵ I-IL-8 to human neutrophils. Both the anti-IL-8 Fabs, 5.12.14 Fab (FIG. 4) and 6G.4.25 Fab (FIG. 5) were able to inhibit the binding of ¹²⁵ I-IL-8 to human neutrophils with an average IC₅₀ of 1.6 nM and 7.5 nM, respectively.

2. Inhibition of IL-8-Mediated Neutrophil Chemotaxis by 5.12.14-Fab and 6G4.2.5-Fab

Human neutrophils were isolated, counted and resuspended at 5×10⁶ cells/ml in Hank's balanced salt solution (abbreviated HBSS; without calcium and magnesium) with 0.1% bovine serum albumin. The neutrophils were labeled by adding calcein AM (Molecular Probe, Eugene, Oreg.) at a final concentration of 2.0 μM. Following a 30 minute incubation at 37° C., cells were washed twice with HBSS-BSA and resuspended at 5×10⁶ cells/ml.

Chemotaxis experiments were carried out in a Neuro Probe (Cabin John, Md.) 96-well chamber, model MBB96. Experimental samples (buffer only control, IL-8 alone or IL-8+Fabs) were loaded in a Polyfiltronics 96-well View plate (Neuro Probe Inc.) placed in the lower chamber. 100 μl of the calcein AM-labeled neutrophils were added to the upper chambers and allowed to migrate through a 5 micrometer porosity PVP free polycarbonate framed filter (Neuro Probe Inc.) toward the bottom chamber sample. The chemotaxis apparatus was then incubated for 40 to 60 minutes at 37° C. with 5% CO₂. At the end of the incubation, neutrophils remaining in the upper chamber were aspirated and upper chambers were washed three times with PBS. Then the polycarbonate filter was removed, non-migrating cells were wiped off with a squeegee wetted with PBS, and the filter was air dried for 15 minutes.

The relative number of neutrophils migrating through the filter (Neutrophil migration index) was determined by measuring fluorescence intensity of the filter and the fluorescence intensity of the contents of the lower chamber and adding the two values together. Fluorescence intensity was measured with a CytoFluor 2300 fluorescent plate reader (Millipore Corp. Bedford, Mass.) configured to read a Corning 96-well plate using the 485-20 nm excitation filter and a 530-25 emission filter, with the sensitivity set at 3.

The results are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 demonstrates the inhibition of human IL-8 mediated neutrophil chemotaxis by chimeric 6G4.2.5 and 5.12.14 Fabs. FIG. 7 demonstrates the relative abilities of chimeric 6G4.2.5 and 5.12.14 Fabs to inhibit rabbit IL-8 mediated neutrophil chemotaxis.

3. Inhibition of IL-8-Mediated Neutrophil Elastase Release by Various Concentrations of 6G4.2.5 and 5.12.14 Fabs

Blood was drawn from healthy male donors into heparinized syringes. Neutrophils were isolated by dextran sedimentation, centrifugation over Lymphocyte Separation Medium (Organon Teknika, Durham, N.C.), and hypotonic lysis of contaminating red blood cells as described by Berman et al. (J. Cell Biochem. 52:183 (1993)). The final neutrophil pellet was suspended at a concentration of 1×10⁷ cells/ml in assay buffer, which consisted of Hanks Balanced Salt Solution (GIBCO, Grand Island, N.Y.) supplemented with 1.0% BSA (fraction V, Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.), 2 mg/ml glucose, 4.2 mM sodium bicarbonate, and 0.01 M HEPES, pH 7.2. The neutrophils were stored at 4° C. for not longer than 1 hr.

IL-8 (10 μl) was mixed with anti-IL-8 Fab, an isotype control Fab, or buffer (20 μl) in 1 ml polypropylene tubes and incubated in a 37° C. water bath for 30 min. IL-8 was used at final concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 1000 nM in dose response studies (FIG. 8) and at a final concentration of 100 nM in the experiments addressing the effects of the Fabs on elastase release (FIGS. 9 and 10). Fab concentrations ranged from approximately 20 nM to 300 nM, resulting in Fab:IL-8 molar ratios of 0.2:1 to 3:1. Cytochalasin B (Sigma) was added to the neutrophil suspension at a concentration of 5 μg/ml (using a 5 mg/ml stock solution made up in DMSO), and the cells were incubated for 15 min in a 37° C. water bath. Cytochalasin B-treated neutrophils (100 μl) were then added to the IL-8/Fab mixtures. After a 3 hr incubation at room temperature, the neutrophils were pelleted by centrifugation (200×g for 5 min), and aliquots of the cell-free supernatants were transferred to 96 well plates (30 μl/well). The elastase substrate, methoxysuccinyl-alanyl-alanyl-prolyl-valyl-p-nitroanilide (Calbiochem, La Jolla, Calif.), was prepared as a 10 mM stock solution in DMSO and stored at 4° C. Elastase substrate working solution was prepared just prior to use (1.2 mM elastase substrate, 1.2 M NaCl, 0.12 M HEPES, pH 7.2), and 170 μl was added to each sample-containing well. The plates were placed in a 37° C. tissue culture incubator for 30 min or until an optical density reading for the positive controls reached at least 1.0. Absorbance was measured at 405 nm using an SLT 340 plate reader (SLT Lab Instruments, Austria).

FIG. 9 demonstrates the ability of the chimeric anti-IL-8 Fabs to inhibit elastase release from human neutrophils stimulated by human IL-8; FIG. 10 demonstrates the relative abilities of the chimeric anti-IL-8 Fabs to inhibit elastase release from human neutrophils stimulated by rabbit IL-8.

C. Molecular Cloning of the Variable Light and Heavy Regions of the Murine 5.12.14 (Anti-IL-8) Monoclonal Antibody

Total RNA was isolated from 1×10.sup.⁸ cells (hybridoma cell line ATCC HB-11722) using the procedure described by Chomczynski and Sacchi (Anal. Biochem. 162:156 (1987)). First strand cDNA was synthesized by specifically priming the mRNA with synthetic DNA oligonucleotides designed to hybridize with regions of the murine RNA encoding the constant region of the kappa light chain or the IgG2a heavy chain (the DNA sequence of these regions are published in Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, Kabat, E. A. et al. (1991) NIH Publication 91-3242, V 1-3.). Three primers (SEQ ID NOS: 1-6) were designed for each of the light and heavy chains to increase the chances of primer hybridization and efficiency of first strand cDNA synthesis (FIG. 13). Amplification of the first strand cDNA to double-stranded (ds) DNA was accomplished using two sets of synthetic DNA oligonucleotide primers: one forward primer (SEQ ID NOS: 7-9) and one reverse primer (SEQ ID NO: 10) for the light chain variable region amplification (FIG. 14) and one forward primer (SEQ ID NOS: 11-14) and one reverse primer (SEQ ID NOS: 11, 15, 14 and 13) for the heavy chain variable region amplification (FIG. 15). The N-terminal sequence of the first eight amino acids of either the light or heavy chains of 5.12.14 was used to generate a putative murine DNA sequence corresponding to this region. (A total of 29 amino acids was sequenced from the N-terminus of both the light chain and heavy chain variable regions using the Edman degradation protein sequencing technique.) This information was used to design the forward amplification primers which were made degenerate in the third position for some codons to increase the chances of primer hybridization to the natural murine DNA codons and also included the unique restriction site, MluI, for both the light chain variable region forward primer and the heavy chain variable region forward primer to facilitate ligation to the 3' end of the STII element in the cloning vector. The reverse amplification primers were designed to anneal with the murine DNA sequence corresponding to a portion of the constant region of the light or heavy chains near the variable/constant junction. The light chain variable region reverse primer contained a unique BstBI restriction site and the heavy chain variable region reverse primer contained a unique ApaI restriction site for ligation to the 5' end of either the human IgG1 constant light or IgG1 constant heavy regions in the vectors, pB13.1 (light chain) and pB14 (heavy chain). The polymerase chain reaction using these primer sets yielded DNA fragments of approximately 400 bp. The cDNA encoding the 5.12.14 light chain variable region was cloned into the vector pB13.1, to form pA51214VL and the 5.12.14 heavy chain variable region was cloned into the vector, pB114, to form pA51214VH. The cDNA inserts were characterized by DNA sequencing and are presented in the DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO: 16) and amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 17) of FIG. 16 (murine light chain variable region) and in the DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO: 18) and amino acid (SEQ ID NO: 19) of FIG. 17 (murine heavy chain variable region).

D. Construction of a 5.12.14 Fab Vector

In the initial construct, pA51214VL, the amino acids between the end of the 5.12.14 murine light chain variable sequence and the unique cloning site, BstBI, in the human IgG1 constant light sequence were of murine origin corresponding to the first 13 amino acids of the murine IgG1 constant region (FIG. 16). Therefore, this plasmid contained a superfluous portion of the murine constant region separating the 5.12.14 murine light chain variable region and the human light chain IgG1 constant region. This intervening sequence would alter the amino acid sequence of the chimera and most likely produce an incorrectly folded Fab. This problem was addressed by immediately truncating the cDNA clone after A109 and re-positioning the BstBI site to the variable/constant junction by the polymerase chain reaction. FIG. 18 shows the amplification primers used to make these modifications. The forward primer, VL.front (SEQ ID NO: 20), was designed to match the last five amino acids of the STII signal sequence, including the MluI cloning site, and the first 4 amino acids of the 5.12.14 murine light chain variable sequence. The sequence was altered from the original cDNA in the third position of the first two codons D1 (T to C) and 12 (C to T) to create a unique EcoRV cloning site which was used for later constructions. The reverse primer, VL.rear (SEQ ID NO: 21), was designed to match the first three amino acids of the human IgG1 constant light sequence and the last seven amino acids of the 5.12.14 light chain variable sequence which included a unique BstBI cloning site. In the process of adding the BstBI site, the nucleotide sequence encoding several amino acids were altered: L106 (TTG to CTT), K107 (AAA to CGA) resulting in a conservative amino acid substitution to arginine, and R108 (CGG to AGA). The PCR product encoding the modified 5.12.14 light chain variable sequence was then subcloned into pB13.1 in a two-part ligation. The MluI-BstBI digested 5.12.14 PCR product encoding the light chain variable region was ligated into MluI-BstBI digested vector to form the plasmid, pA51214VL'. The modified cDNA was characterized by DNA sequencing. The coding sequence for the 5.12.14 light chain is shown in FIG. 19.

Likewise, the DNA sequence between the end of the heavy chain variable region and the unique cloning site, ApaI, in the human IgG1 heavy chain constant domain of pA51214VH was reconstructed to change the amino acids in this area from murine to human. This was done by the polymerase chain reaction. Amplification of the murine 5.12.14 heavy chain variable sequence was accomplished using the primers shown in FIG. 18. The forward PCR primer (SEQ ID NO: 22) was designed to match nucleotides 867-887 in pA51214VH upstream of the STII signal sequence and the putative cDNA sequence encoding the heavy chain variable region and included the unique cloning site SpeI. The reverse PCR primer (SEQ ID NO: 23) was designed to match the last four amino acids of the 5.12.14 heavy chain variable sequence and the first six amino acids corresponding to the human IgG1 heavy constant sequence which also included the unique cloning site, ApaI. The PCR product encoding the modified 5.12.14 heavy chain variable sequence was then subcloned to the expression plasmid, pMHM24.2.28 in a two-part ligation. The vector was digested with SpeI-ApaI and the SpeI-ApaI digested 5.12.14 PCR product encoding the heavy chain variable region was ligated into it to form the plasmid, pA51214VH'. The modified cDNA was characterized by DNA sequencing. The coding sequence for the 5.12.14 heavy chain is shown in the DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO: 26) and amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 27) of FIGS. 20A-20B.

The first expression plasmid, pantiIL-8.1, encoding the chimeric Fab of 5.12.14 was made by digesting pA51214VH' with EcoRV and Bpu1102I to replace the EcoRV-Bpu1102I fragment with a EcoRV-Bpu1102I fragment encoding the murine 5.12.14 light chain variable region of pA51214VL'. The resultant plasmid thus contained the murine-human variable/constant regions of both the light and heavy chains of 5.12.14.

Preliminary analysis of Fab expression using pantiIl-8.1 showed that the light and heavy chains were produced intracellularly but very little was being secreted into the periplasmic space of E. coli. To correct this problem, a second expression plasmid was constructed.

The second expression plasmid, pantiIl-8.2, was constructed using the plasmid, pmy187, as the vector. Plasmid pantiIl-8.2 was made by digesting pmy187 with MluI and SphI and the MluI (partial)-SphI fragment encoding the murine 5.12.14 murine-human chimeric Fab of pantiIl-8.1 was ligated into it. The resultant plasmid thus contained the murine-human variable/constant regions of both the light and heavy chains of 5.12.14.

The plasmid pantiIl-8.2 was deposited on Feb. 10, 1995 with the American Type Culture Collection, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md., U.S.A. (ATCC) and assigned ATTC Accession No. ATCC 97056.

E. Molecular Cloning of the Variable Light and Heavy Regions of the Murine 6G4.2.5 Monoclonal Antibody

Total RNA was isolated from 1×10⁸ cells (hybridoma cell line 6G4.2.5) using the procedure described by Chomczynski and Sacchi (Anal. Biochem. 162:156 (1987)). First strand cDNA was synthesized by specifically priming the mRNA with synthetic DNA oligonucleotides designed to hybridize with regions of the murine RNA encoding the constant region of the kappa light chain or the IgG2a heavy chain (the DNA sequence of these regions are published in Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, Kabat et al. (1991) NIH Publication 91-3242, V 1-3). Three primers (SEQ ID NOS: 1-6) were designed for each the light and heavy chains to increase the chances of primer hybridization and efficiency of first strand cDNA synthesis (FIG. 21). Amplification of the first strand cDNA to double-stranded (ds) DNA was accomplished using two sets of synthetic DNA oligonucleotide primers: one forward primer (SEQ ID NOS: 28-30) and one reverse primer (SEQ ID NO: 31) for the light chain variable region amplification (FIG. 22) and one forward primer (SEQ ID NOS: 32-33) and one reverse primer (SEQ ID NOS: 11, 15, 14 and 13) for the heavy chain variable region amplification (FIG. 23). The N-terminal sequence of the first eight amino acids of either the light or heavy chains of 6G4.2.5 was used to generate a putative murine DNA sequence corresponding to this region. (A total of 29 amino acids were sequenced from the N-terminus of both the light chain and heavy chain variable regions using the Edman degradation protein sequencing technique.) This information was used to design the forward amplification primers which were made degenerate in the third position for some codons to increase the chances of primer hybridization to the natural murine DNA codons and also included the unique restriction site, NsiI, for the light chain variable region forward primer and the unique restriction site, MluI, for the heavy chain variable region forward primer to facilitate ligation to the 3' end of the STII element in the vector, pchimFab. The reverse amplification primers were designed to anneal with the murine DNA sequence corresponding to a portion of the constant region of the light or heavy chains near the variable/constant junction. The light chain variable region reverse primer contained a unique MunI restriction site and the heavy chain variable region reverse primer contained a unique ApaI restriction site for ligation to the 5' end of either the human IgG1 constant light or IgG1 constant heavy regions in the vector, pchimFab. The polymerase chain reaction using these primer sets yielded DNA fragments of approximately 400 bp and were cloned individually into the vector, pchimFab, to form p6G425VL and p6G425VH. The cDNA inserts were characterized by DNA sequencing and are presented in the DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO: 34) and amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 35) of FIG. 24 (murine light chain variable region) and the DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO: 36) and amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 37) of FIG. 25 (murine heavy chain variable region).

F. Construction of a 6G4.2.5 Chimeric Fab Vector

In the initial construct, p6G425VL, the amino acids between the end of the 6G4.2.5 murine light chain variable sequence and the unique cloning site, MunI, in the human IgG1 constant light sequence were of murine origin. These amino acids must match the human IgG1 amino acid sequence to allow proper folding of the chimeric Fab. Two murine amino acids, D115 and S121, differed dramatically from the amino acids found in the loops of the β-strands of the human IgG1 constant domain and were converted to the proper human amino acid residues, V115 and F121, by site-directed mutagenesis using the primers (SEQ ID NOS: 38-40 shown in FIG. 26. These specific mutations were confirmed by DNA sequencing and the modified plasmid named p6G425VL'. The coding sequence is shown in the DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO: 41) and amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 42) of FIGS. 27A-27B.

Likewise, the DNA sequence between the end of the heavy chain variable region and the unique cloning site, ApaI, in the human IgG1 heavy chain constant domain of p6G425VH was reconstructed to change the amino acids in this area from murine to human. This process was facilitated by the discovery of a BstEII site near the end of the heavy chain variable region. This site and the ApaI site were used for the addition of a synthetic piece of DNA encoding the corresponding IgG human amino acid sequence. The synthetic oligo-nucleotides shown in FIG. 26 were designed as complements of one another to allow the formation of a 27 bp piece of ds DNA. The construction was performed as a three-part ligation because the plasmid, p6G425VH, contained an additional BstEII site within the vector sequence. A 5309 bp fragment of p6G425VH digested with MluI-ApaI was ligated to a 388 bp fragment carrying the 6G4.2.5 heavy chain variable region and a 27 bp synthetic DNA fragment encoding the first six amino acids of the human IgG1 constant region to form the plasmid, p6G425VH'. The insertion of the synthetic piece of DNA was confirmed by DNA sequencing. The coding sequence is shown in the DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO: 43) and amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 44) of FIGS. 28A-28B.

The expression plasmid, p6G425chim2, encoding the chimeric Fab of 6G4.2.5 was made by digesting p6G425chimVL' with MluI and ApaI to remove the STII-murine HPC4 heavy chain variable region and replacing it with the MluI-ApaI fragment encoding the STII-murine 6G4.2.5 heavy chain variable region of p6G425chimVH'. The resultant plasmid thus contained the murine-human variable/constant regions of both the light and heavy chains of 6G4.2.5.

The plasmid p6G425chim2 was deposited on Feb. 10, 1995 with the American Type Culture Collection, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md., U.S.A. (ATCC) and assigned ATTC Accession No. 97055.

G. Construction of Humanized Versions of Anti-IL-8 Antibody 6G4.2.5

The murine cDNA sequence information obtained from the hybridoma cell line, 6G4.2.5, was used to construct recombinant humanized variants of the murine anti-IL-8 antibody. The first humanized variant, F(ab)-1, was made by grafting synthetic DNA oligonucleotide primers encoding the murine CDRs of the heavy and light chains onto a phagemid vector, pEMX1 (Werther et al., J. Immunol, 157: 4986-4995 (1996)), which contains a human κ-subgroup I light chain and a human IgG 1 subgroup III heavy chain (FIG. 29). Amino acids comprising the framework of the antibody that were potentially important for maintaining the conformations necessary for high affinity binding to IL-8 by the complementarity-determining regions (CDR) were identified by comparing molecular models of the murine and humanized 6G4.2.5 (F(ab)-1) variable domains using methods described by Carter et al., PNAS 89:4285 (1992) and Eigenbrot, et. al., J. Mol. Biol. 229:969 (1993). Additional humanized framework variants (F(ab) 2-9) were constructed from the information obtained from these models and are presented in Table 2 below. In these variants, the site-directed mutagenesis methods of Kunkel, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA), 82:488 (1985) were utilized to exchange specific human framework residues with their corresponding 6G4.2.5 murine counterparts. Subsequently, the entire coding sequence of each variant was confirmed by DNA sequencing. Expression and purification of each F(ab) variant was performed as previously described by Werther et. al., supra, with the exception that hen egg white lysozyme was omitted from the purification protocol. The variant antibodies were analyzed by SDS-PAGE, electrospray mass spectroscopy and amino acid analysis.

                                      TABLE 4                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Humanized 6G425 Variants                                                                                             IC50.sup.c                               Variant                                                                              Version                                                                              Template                                                                             Changes.sup.a                                                                         Purpose.sup.b                                                                               Mean  S.D.                                                                               N                              __________________________________________________________________________     F(ab)-1                                                                              version 1   CDR Swap            63.0  12.3                                                                               4                                F(ab)-2 version 2 F(ab)-1 PheH67 Ala packaging w/ CDR H2 106.0  17.0 2                                                        F(ab)-3 version 3                                                             F(ab)-1 ArgH71Val                                                              packaging w/ CDRs H1, H2                                                       79.8 42.2 4                      F(ab)-4 version 6 F(ab)-1 IleH69Leu packaging w/ CDR H2 44.7  9.0 3                                                           F(ab)-5 version 7                                                             F(ab)-1 LeuH78Ala                                                              packaging w/ CDRs H1, H2                                                       52.7 31.0 9                      F(ab)-6 version 8 F(ab)-1 IleH69Leu combine F(ab)-4 and -5 34.6  6.7 7                                                           LeuH78Ala                    F(ab)-7 version 16 F(ab)-6 LeuH80Val packaging w/ CDR H1 38.4  9.1 2                                                          F(ab)-8 version 19                                                            F(ab)-6 ArgH38Lys                                                              packaging w/ CDR H2 14.0                                                       5.7 2                            F(ab)-9 version 11 F(ab)-6 GluH6Gln packaging w/ CDR H3 19.0  5.1 7                                                           Chimeric.sup.d     11.4                                                       7.0 1                            F(ab)       3                                                                  rhu4D5.sup.e     >200 μM  5                                                 F(ab)                                                                        __________________________________________________________________________      .sup.a Amino acid changes made relative to the template used. Murine           residues are in bold italics and residue numbering is according to Kabat       et al.                                                                         .sup.b Purpose for making changes based upon interactions observed in          molecular models of the humanized and murine variable domains.                 .sup.c nM concentration of variant necessary to inhibit binding of             iodinated IL8 to human neutrophils in the competitive binding assay.           .sup.d Chimeric F(ab) is a (F(ab) which carries the murine heavy and ligh      chain variable domains fused to the human light chain kI constant domain       and the human heavy chain subgroup III constant domain I respectively.         .sup.e rhu4D5F(ab) is of the same isotype as the humanized 6G425 F(ab)s        and is a humanized antiHER2 F(ab) and therefore should not bind to IL8.  

The first humanized variant, F(ab)-1, was an unaltered CDR swap in which all the murine CDR amino acids defined by both x-ray crystallography and sequence hypervariability were transferred to the human framework. When the purified F(ab) was tested for its ability to inhibit ¹²⁵ I-IL-8 binding to human neutrophils according to the methods described in Section (B)(1) above, a 5.5 fold reduction in binding affinity was evident as shown in Table 4 above. Subsequent versions of F(ab)-1 were engineered to fashion the 3-dimensional structure of the CDR loops into a more favorable conformation for binding IL-8. The relative affinities of the F(ab) variants determined from competition binding experiments using human neutrophils as described in Section (B)(1) above are presented in Table 4 above. A slight decrease in IL-8 binding (<2 fold) was observed for F(ab)-2-3 while only slight increases in IL-8 binding were noted for F(ab)3-5. Variant F(ab)-6 had the highest increase in affinity for IL-8 (approximately 2 fold), exhibiting an IL-8 binding affinity of 34.6 nM compared to the F(ab)-1 IL-8 binding affinity of 63 nM. The substitutions of murine Leu for Ile at H69 and murine Ala for Leu at H78 are predicted to influence the packing of CDRs H1 and H2. Further framework substitutions using the F(ab)-6 variant as template were made to bring the binding affinity closer to that of the chimeric F(ab). In-vitro binding experiments revealed no change in affinity for F(ab)-7 (38.4 nM) but a significant improvement in affinity for F(ab)-8/9 of 14 nM and 19 nM, respectively. By analysis of a 3-D computer-generated model of the anti-IL-8 antibody, it was hypothesized that the substitution of murine Lys for Arg at H38 in F(ab)-8 influences CDR-H2 while a change at H6 of murine Gln for Glu in F(ab)-9 affects CDR-H3. Examination of the human antibody sequences with respect to amino acid variability revealed that the frequency of Arg at residue H38 is >99% whereas residue H6 is either Gln˜20% or Glu˜80% (Kabat et. al., Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest 5th Ed. (1991)). Therefore, to reduce the likelihood of causing an immune response to the antibody, F(ab)-9 was chosen over F(ab)-8 for further affinity maturation studies. Variant F(ab)-9 was also tested for its ability to inhibit IL-8-mediated chemotaxis (FIGS. 30A-30C). This antibody was able to block neutrophil migration induced by wild-type human IL-8, human monomeric IL-8 and Rhesus IL-8 with 1C₅₀ 's of approximately 12 nM, 15 nM, and 22 nM, respectively, in IL-8 mediated neutrophil chemotaxis inhibition assays performed as described in Section (B)(2) above. The amino acid sequence for variant F(ab)-8 is provided in FIG. 31F. The F(ab)-8 was found to block human and rhesus IL-8-mediated chemotaxis with IC₅₀ 's of 12 nM and 10 nM, respectively, in IL-8 mediated neutrophil chemotaxis inhibition assays performed as described in Section (B)(2) above.

H. Construction of an Anti-IL-8-Gene III Fusion Protein for Phase Display and Alanine Scanning Mutagenesis

An expression plasmid, pPh6G4.V11, encoding a fusion protein (heavy chain of the humanized 6G4.2.5 version 11 antibody and the M13 phage gene-III coat protein) and the light chain of the humanized 6G4.2.5 version 11 antibody was assembled to produce a monovalent display of the anti-IL-8 antibody on phage particles. The construct was made by digesting the plasmid, pFPHX, with EcoRV and ApaI to remove the existing irrelevant antibody coding sequence and replacing it with a 1305 bp EcoRV-ApaI fragment from the plasmid, p6G4.V11, encoding the humanized 6G4.2.5 version 11 anti-IL-8 antibody. The translated sequence of the humanized 6G4.2.5 version 11 heavy chain (SEQ ID NO: 52), peptide linker and gene III coat protein (SEQ ID NO: 53) is shown in FIG. 31A. The pFPHX plasmid is a derivative of phGHam-3 which contains an in-frame amber codon (TAG) between the human growth hormone and gene-III DNA coding sequences. When transformed into an amber suppressor strain of E. coli, the codon (TAG) is read as Glutamate producing a growth hormone (hGH)-gene III fusion protein. Likewise, in a normal strain of E. coli, the codon (TAG) is read as a stop preventing translational read-through into the gene-III sequence and thus allowing the production of soluble hGH. The pGHam-3 plasmid is described in Methods: A Companion to Methods in Enzymology, 3:205 (1991). The final product, pPh6G4.V11, was used as the template for the alanine scanning mutagenesis of the CDRs and for the construction of randomized CDR libraries of the humanized 6G4.V11 antibody.

I. Alanine Scanning Mutagenesis of Humanized Antibody 6G4.2.5 Version 11

The solvent exposed amino acid residues in the CDRs of the humanized anti-IL-8 6G4.2.5 version 11 antibody (h6G4V11) were identified by analysis of a 3-D computer-generated model of the anti-IL-8 antibody. In order to determine which solvent exposed amino acids in the CDRs affect binding to interleukin-8, each of the solvent exposed amino acids was individually changed to alanine, creating a panel of mutant antibodies wherein each mutant contained an alanine substitution at a single solvent exposed residue. The alanine scanning mutagenesis was performed as described by Leong et. al., J. Biol. Chem., 269: 19343 (1994)).

The IC₅₀ 's (relative affinities) of h6G4V11 wt and mutated antibodies were established using a Competition Phage ELISA Assay described by Cunningham et. al., (EMBO J. 13:2508 (1994)) and Lee et. al., (Science 270:1657 (1995)). The assay measures the ability of each antibody to bind IL-8 coated onto a 96-well plate in the presence of various concentrations of free IL-8 (0.2 to 1 uM) in solution. The first step of the assay requires that the concentrations of the phage carrying the wild type and mutated antibodies be normalized, allowing a comparison of the relative affinities of each antibody. The normalization was accomplished by titering the phage on the IL-8 coated plates and establishing their EC₅₀. Sulfhydryl coated 96-well binding plates (Corning-Costar; Wilmington, Mass.) were incubated with a 0.1 mg/ml solution of K64C IL-8 (Lysine 64 is substituted with Cysteine to allow the formation of a disulfide bond between the free thiol group of K64C IL-8 and the sulfhydryl coated plate, which results in the positioning of the IL-8 receptor binding domains towards the solution interface) in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) pH6.5 containing 1 mM EDTA for 1 hour at 25° C. followed by three washes with PBS and a final incubation with a solution of PBS containing 1.75 mg/ml of L-cysteine-HCl and 0.1 M NaHCO₃ to block any free reactive sulfhydryl groups on the plate. The plates were washed once more and stored covered at 4° C. with 200 ul of PBS/well. Phage displaying either the reference antibody, h6G4V11, or the mutant h6G4V11 antibodies were grown and harvested by PEG precipitation. The phage were resuspended in 500 ul 10 mM Tris-HCl pH7.5, 1 mM EDTA and 100 mM NaCl and held at 4° C. for no longer than 3 hours. An aliquot of each phage was diluted 4-fold in PBS containing 0.05% Tween-20 (BioRad, Richmond, Calif.) and 0.5% BSA RIA grade (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.) (PBB) and added to IL-8 coated plates blocked for at least 2 hours at 25° C. with 50 mg/ml skim milk powder in 25 mM Carbonate Buffer pH9.6. The phage were next serially diluted in 3 fold steps down the plate from well A through H. The plates were incubated for 1 hour at 25° C. followed by nine quick washes with PBS containing 0.05% Tween-20 (PBST). The plates were then incubated with a 1:3200 dilution of rabbit anti-phage antibody and a 1:1600 dilution of secondary goat-anti-rabbit Fc HRP-conjugated antibody for 15 minutes at 25° C. followed by nine quick washes with PBST. The plates were developed with 80 ul/well of 1 mg/ml OPD (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.) in Citrate Phosphate buffer pH5.0 containing 0.015% H₂ O₂ for 4 minutes at 25° C. and the reaction stopped with the addition of 40 ul of 4.5M H₂ SO₄. The plates were analyzed at wavelength λ₄₉₂ in a SLT model 340ATTC plate reader (SLT Lab Instruments). The individual EC₅₀ 's were determined by analyzing the data using the program Kaleidagraph (Synergy Software, Reading, Pa.) and a 4-parameter fit equation. The phage held at 4° C. were then immediately diluted in PBB to achieve a final concentration corresponding to their respective EC₅₀ or target OD₄₉₂ for the competition segment of the experiment, and dispensed into a 96 well plate containing 4-fold serial dilutions of soluble IL-8 ranging from 1 uM in well A and ending with 0.2 uM in well H. Using a 12-channel pipet, 100 ul of the phage/IL-8 mixture was transferred to an IL-8 coated 96-well plate and executed as described above. Each sample was done in triplicate--3 columns/sample.

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                         Relative Affinities (IC50) for Alanine-scan Anti-IL-8 6G4V11 CDR                 Mutants                                                                          CDR      Amino Acid Residue                                                                             Avg IC50 (nM)                                                                           Std Dev                                  ______________________________________                                         V11      Reference       11.5       6.4                                          CDR-L1 S26 6.3 2.9                                                              Q27 10.2 2.4                                                                   S28 14.2 5.2                                                                   V30 29.1 12.3                                                                  H31 580.3 243.0                                                                I33 64.2 14.6                                                                  N35 3.3 0.7                                                                    T36 138.0 nd                                                                   Y37 NDB nd                                                                    CDR-L2 K55 24.2 14.9                                                            V56 15.5 3.8                                                                   S57 12.4 4.0                                                                   N58 17.6 3.7                                                                   R59 nd nd                                                                     CDR-L3 S96 10.8 4.4                                                             T97 70.6 55.2                                                                  H98 8.0 1.2                                                                    V99 19.6 1.9                                                                  CDR-H1 S28 8.6 3.1                                                              S30 nd nd                                                                      S31 7.8 2.5                                                                    H32 13.3 5.8                                                                   Y53 48.2 15.8                                                                 CDR-H2 Y50 35.6 13.0                                                            D52 13.3 7.5                                                                   S53 6.0 3.4                                                                    N54 96.0 5.8                                                                   E56 15.8 4.5                                                                   T57 8.4 1.6                                                                    T58 11.3 1.8                                                                   Y59 9.1 3.7                                                                    Q61 12.6 6.4                                                                   K64 18.5 12.1                                                                 CDR-H3 D96 NDB nd                                                               Y97 NDB nd                                                                     R98 36.6 15.3                                                                  Y99 199.5 nd                                                                   N100 278.3 169.4                                                               D102 159.2 44                                                                  W103 NDB nd                                                                    F104 NDB nd                                                                    F105 209.4 72.3                                                                D106 25.3 21.7                                                              ______________________________________                                          Each sample performed in triplicate/experiment.                                NDB = No Detectable Binding                                                    nd = value not determined*                                                     Residue numbering is according to Kabat et al.                           

The results of the alanine-scan are summarized in Table 5 above. The alanine substitutions in of many of the mutant antibodies had little or no adverse effects (<3 fold) on the binding affinity for IL-8. Mutants that were found to exhibit no detectable binding of IL-8 (NDB) presumably contained disruptions in the conformational structure of the antibody conferred by crucial structural or buried amino acids in the CDR. Based on the results of the scan, CDR-H3 (heavy chain, 3rd CDR) was identified as the dominant binding epitope for binding IL-8. Alanine substitutions in this CDR resulted in a 3 to >26 fold decrease in binding affinity. The amino acids, Y597, Y599 and D602 are of particular interest because it was determined from the computer generated model of the anti-IL-8 antibody that these residues are solvent exposed and that these residues might participate in hydrogen bonding or charge interactions with IL-8 or other amino acids of the antibody that influence either binding to IL-8 or the conformation of the CDR-H3 loop structure. (See the model depicted in FIG. 32). Unexpected increases in binding affinity (1.8>2.7 fold) were noted for S528 and S531 of CDR-H1 and S553 of CDR-H2.

Surprisingly, a significant increase in binding affinity was observed in the alanine mutant N35A located in CDR-L1 (light chain, 1st CDR). A 3-6 fold increase in affinity was observed compared to the wild-type h6G4V11 antibody. This augmentation of IL-8 binding could be the result of the close proximity of N35A to CDR-H3. The alanine substitution may have imparted a slight change in the conformation of CDR-L1 which alters the packing interaction of neighboring amino acid residues on CDR-H3, thereby tweaking the loop of CDR-H3 into a conformation that facilitates more appropriate contacts with IL-8. Similarly, N35A may also influence the orientation of amino acids in CDR-L1 or its interaction directly with IL-8. Unexpected increases in affinity (˜2 fold) were also observed for S26 of CDR-L1 and H98 of CDR-L3.

J. Characterization of Humanized Anti-IL-8 Antibody 6G4V11N35A

Soluble 6G4V11N35A Fab antibody was made by transforming an amber non-suppressor strain of E. coli, 34B8, with pPh6G4.V11 and growing the culture in low phosphate medium for 24 hours. The periplasmic fraction was collected and passed over a Hi-Trap Protein-G column (Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.) followed by a desalting and concentration step. The protein was analyzed by SDS-PAGE, mass spectrometry and amino acid analysis. The protein had the correct size and amino acid composition (FIG. 35). The 6G4V11N35A Fab was tested for its ability to inhibit ¹²⁵ I-IL-8 binding to human neutrophils and to inhibit IL-8 mediated neutrophil chemotaxis as described in Section (B)(1) and (B)(2) above. As shown in FIG. 33, hybridoma-derived intact murine antibody (6G4 murine mAB), recombinant 6G4 murine-human chimera Fab, recombinant humanized Fab versions 1 and 11, and 6G4V11N35A Fab were found to inhibit ¹²⁵ I-IL-8 binding to human neutrophils with an average IC₅₀ of 5 nM, 8 nM, 40 nM, 10 nM and 3 nM, respectively. The 6G4V11N35A Fab had at least a 2-fold higher affinity than the 6G4.2.5 chimera Fab and a 3-fold higher affinity than 6G4V11. As shown in FIG. 34, the 6G4V11N35A Fab was found to inhibit IL-8 mediated neutrophil chemotaxis induced by both wild type and monomeric human IL-8, and by two different animal species of IL-8, namely, rabbit and rhesus. The irrelevant isotype control Fab (4D5) did not inhibit neutrophil migration. The average IC₅₀ values were 3 nM (wt IL-8), 1 nM (monomeric IL-8), 5 nM (Rabbit IL-8), and 10 nM (Rhesus IL-8).

K. Construction of a 6G4V11N35A F(ab')₂ Leucine Zipper

Production of a F(ab')₂ version of the humanized anti-IL-8 6G4V11N35A Fab was accomplished by constructing a fusion protein with the yeast GCN4 leucine zipper. The expression plasmid p6G4V11N35A.F(ab')₂ was made by digesting the plasmid p6G425chim2.fab2 with the restriction enzymes bsaI and apaI to remove the DNA sequence encoding the 6G4.2.5 murine-human chimeric Fab and replacing it with a 2620 bp bsaI-apaI fragment from pPh6G4.V11N35A. The plasmid p6G425chim2.fab2 is a derivative of pS1130 which encodes a fusion protein (the GCN4 leucine zipper fused to the heavy chain of anti-CD18) and the light chain of anti-CD18 antibody. The expression plasmid p6G4V11N35A.F(ab')₂ was deposited on Feb. 20, 1996 with the American Type Culture Collection, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md., U.S.A. (ATCC) and assigned ATCC Accession No. 97890. A pepsin cleavage site in the hinge region of the antibody facilitates the removal of the leucine zipper leaving the two immunoglobin monomers joined by the cysteines that generate the interchain disulfide bonds. The DNA and protein sequence of the h6G4V11N35A.F(ab')₂ are depicted in FIGS. 35, 36, 37A and 37B.

An expression host cell was obtained by transforming E. coli strain 49D6 with p6G4V11N35A.F(ab')₂ essentially as described in Section (II)(3)(C) above. The transformed host E. coli 49D6 (p6G4V11N35A.F(ab')₂) was deposited on Feb. 20, 1997 at the ATCC and assigned ATCC Accession No. 98332. Transformed host cells were grown in culture, and the 6G4V11N35A F(ab')2 product was harvested from the host cell periplasmic space essentially as described in Section (II)(3)(F) above.

L. Characterization of the Humanized 6G4V11N35A F(ab')2 Leucine Zipper

The 6G4V11N35A Fab and F(ab')₂ were tested for their ability to inhibit ¹²⁵ I-IL-8 binding to neutrophils according to the procedures described in Section (B)(1) above. The displacement curves from a representative binding experiment performed in duplicate is depicted in FIG. 38. Scatchard analysis of this data shows that 6G4V11N35A F(ab')₂ inhibited ¹²⁵ I-IL-8 binding to human neutrophils with an average IC₅₀ of 0.7 nM (±0.2). This is at least a 7 fold increase in affinity compared to the hybridoma-derived intact murine antibody (average IC₅₀ of 5 nM) and at least a 2.8 fold increase in affinity over the Fab version (average IC₅₀ of 2 nM).

The 6G4V11N35A F(ab)₂ was also tested for its ability to inhibit IL-8 mediated neutrophil chemotaxis according to the procedures described in Section (B)(2) above. The results of a representative chemotaxis experiment performed in quadruplicate are depicted in FIG. 39, As shown in FIG. 39, the 6G4V11N35A F(ab')₂ inhibited human IL-8 mediated neutrophil chemotaxis. The 6G4V11N35A F(ab')₂ exhibited an average IC₅₀ value of 1.5 nM versus 2.7 nM for the 6G4V11N35A Fab, which represents an approximately 2 fold improvement in the antibody's ability to neutralize the effects of IL-8. The irrelevant isotype control Fab (4D5) did not inhibit neutrophil migration. Furthermore, the 6G4V11N35A F(ab')₂ antibody retained its ability to inhibit IL-8 mediated neutrophil chemotaxis by monomeric IL-8 and by two different animal species of IL-8, namely rabbit and rhesus, in neutrophil chemotaxis experiments conducted as described above. An individual experiment is shown in FIG. 40. The average IC₅₀ values were 1 nM (monomeric IL-8), 4nM (Rabbit IL-8), and 2.0 nM (Rhesus IL-8).

The following biological materials have been deposited with the American Type Culture Collection, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md., U.S.A. (ATCC):

    ______________________________________                                                            ATCC                                                          Material Accession No. Deposit Date                                          ______________________________________                                         hybridoma cell line 5.12.14                                                                       HB 11553   February 15,                                         1993                                                                         hybridoma cell line 6G4.2.5 HB 11722 September 28,                               1994                                                                         pantiIL-8.2, E. coli strain 294 mm 97056 February 10,                            1995                                                                         p6G425chim2, E. coli strain 294 mm 97055 February 10,                            1995                                                                         p6G4V11N35A.F(ab').sub.2 97890 February 20,                                      1997                                                                         E. coli strain 98332 February 20,                                              49D6(p6G4V11N35A.F(ab').sub.2)  1997                                         ______________________________________                                    

These deposits were made under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purpose of Patent Procedure and the Regulations thereunder (Budapest Treaty). This assures maintenance of a viable deposit for 30 years from the date of deposit. These cell lines will be made available by ATCC under the terms of the Budapest Treaty, and subject to an agreement between Genentech, Inc. and ATCC, which assures permanent and unrestricted availability of the cell lines to the public upon issuance of the pertinent U.S. patent or upon laying open to the public of any U.S. or foreign patent application, whichever comes first, and assures availability of the cell lines to one determined by the U.S. Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks to be entitled thereto according to 35 USC §122 and the Commissioner's rules pursuant thereto (including 37 CFR §1.14 with particular reference to 886 OG 638).

The assignee of the present application has agreed that if the deposited cell lines should be lost or destroyed when cultivated under suitable conditions, they will be promptly replaced on notification with a specimen of the same cell line. Availability of the deposited cell lines is not to be construed as a license to practice the invention in contravention of the rights granted under the authority of any government in accordance with its patent laws.

    __________________________________________________________________________     #             SEQUENCE LISTING                                                    - -  - - (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:                                              - -    (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 61                                           - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 22 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:                                - - CAGTCCAACT GTTCAGGACG CC           - #                  - #                      22                                                                      - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 22 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:                                - - GTGCTGCTCA TGCTGTAGGT GC           - #                  - #                      22                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 23 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:                                - - GAAGTTGATG TCTTGTGAGT GGC           - #                  - #                     23                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 24 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:                                - - GCATCCTAGA GTCACCGAGG AGCC          - #                  - #                     24                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 22 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5:                                - - CACTGGCTCA GGGAAATAAC CC           - #                  - #                      22                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 22 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6:                                - - GGAGAGCTGG GAAGGTGTGC AC           - #                  - #                      22                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 35 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:7:                                - - ACAAACGCGT ACGCTGACAT CGTCATGACC CAGTC       - #                  -      #       35                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:8:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 35 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:8:                                - - ACAAACGCGT ACGCTGATAT TGTCATGACT CAGTC       - #                  -      #       35                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:9:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 35 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:9:                                - - ACAAACGCGT ACGCTGACAT CGTCATGACA CAGTC       - #                  -      #       35                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:10:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 37 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:10:                               - - GCTCTTCGAA TGGTGGGAAG ATGGATACAG TTGGTGC      - #                        - #      37                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:11:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 39 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:11:                               - - CGATGGGCCC GGATAGACCG ATGGGGCTGT TGTTTTGGC      - #                       - #    39                                                                      - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:12:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 39 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:12:                               - - CGATGGGCCC GGATAGACTG ATGGGGCTGT CGTTTTGGC      - #                       - #    39                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:13:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 39 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:13:                               - - CGATGGGCCC GGATAGACGG ATGGGGCTGT TGTTTTGGC      - #                       - #    39                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:14:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 39 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:14:                               - - CGATGGGCCC GGATAGACAG ATGGGGCTGT TGTTTTGGC      - #                       - #    39                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:15:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 39 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:15:                               - - CGATGGGCCC GGATAGACTG ATGGGGCTGT TGTTTTGGC      - #                       - #    39                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:16:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 369 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:16:                               - - GACATTGTCA TGACACAGTC TCAAAAATTC ATGTCCACAT CAGTAGGAGA  - #                   50                                                                          - - CAGGGTCAGC GTCACCTGCA AGGCCAGTCA GAATGTGGGT ACTAATGTAG  - #                  100                                                                          - - CCTGGTATCA ACAGAAACCA GGGCAATCTC CTAAAGCACT GATTTACTCG  - #                  150                                                                          - - TCATCCTACC GGTACAGTGG AGTCCCTGAT CGCTTCACAG GCAGTGGATC  - #                  200                                                                          - - TGGGACAGAT TTCACTCTCA CCATCAGCCA TGTGCAGTCT GAAGACTTGG  - #                  250                                                                          - - CAGACTATTT CTGTCAGCAA TATAACATCT ATCCTCTCAC GTTCGGTCCT  - #                  300                                                                          - - GGGACCAAGC TGGAGTTGAA ACGGGCTGAT GCTGCACCAC CAACTGTATC  - #                  350                                                                          - - CATCTTCCCA CCATTCGAA             - #                  - #                       - #369                                                                    - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:17:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 123 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: Amino Acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:17:                               - - Asp Ile Val Met Thr Gln Ser Gln Lys Phe Me - #t Ser Thr Ser Val             1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Gly Asp Arg Val Ser Val Thr Cys Lys Ala Se - #r Gln Asn Val Gly                            20 - #                 25 - #                 30               - - Thr Asn Val Ala Trp Tyr Gln Gln Lys Pro Gl - #y Gln Ser Pro Lys                            35 - #                 40 - #                 45               - - Ala Leu Ile Tyr Ser Ser Ser Tyr Arg Tyr Se - #r Gly Val Pro Asp                            50 - #                 55 - #                 60               - - Arg Phe Thr Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Ph - #e Thr Leu Thr Ile                            65 - #                 70 - #                 75               - - Ser His Val Gln Ser Glu Asp Leu Ala Asp Ty - #r Phe Cys Gln Gln                            80 - #                 85 - #                 90               - - Tyr Asn Ile Tyr Pro Leu Thr Phe Gly Pro Gl - #y Thr Lys Leu Glu                            95 - #                100 - #                105               - - Leu Lys Arg Ala Asp Ala Ala Pro Pro Thr Va - #l Ser Ile Phe Pro                           110  - #               115  - #               120               - - Pro Phe Glu                                                                       123                                                                     - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:18:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 417 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:18:                               - - TTCTATTGCT ACAAACGCGT ACGCTGAGGT GCAGCTGGTG GAGTCTGGGG  - #                   50                                                                          - - GAGGCTTAGT GCCGCCTGGA GGGTCCCTGA AACTCTCCTG TGCAGCCTCT  - #                  100                                                                          - - GGATTCATAT TCAGTAGTTA TGGCATGTCT TGGGTTCGCC AGACTCCAGG  - #                  150                                                                          - - CAAGAGCCTG GAGTTGGTCG CAACCATTAA TAATAATGGT GATAGCACCT  - #                  200                                                                          - - ATTATCCAGA CAGTGTGAAG GGCCGATTCA CCATCTCCCG AGACAATGCC  - #                  250                                                                          - - AAGAACACCC TGTACCTGCA AATGAGCAGT CTGAAGTCTG AGGACACAGC  - #                  300                                                                          - - CATGTTTTAC TGTGCAAGAG CCCTCATTAG TTCGGCTACT TGGTTTGGTT  - #                  350                                                                          - - ACTGGGGCCA AGGGACTCTG GTCACTGTCT CTGCAGCCAA AACAACAGCC  - #                  400                                                                          - - CCATCTGTCT ATCCGGG             - #                  - #                       - #  417                                                                    - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:19:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 130 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: Amino Acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:19:                               - - Glu Val Gln Leu Val Glu Ser Gly Gly Gly Le - #u Val Pro Pro Gly             1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Gly Ser Leu Lys Leu Ser Cys Ala Ala Ser Gl - #y Phe Ile Phe Ser                            20 - #                 25 - #                 30               - - Ser Tyr Gly Met Ser Trp Val Arg Gln Thr Pr - #o Gly Lys Ser Leu                            35 - #                 40 - #                 45               - - Glu Leu Val Ala Thr Ile Asn Asn Asn Gly As - #p Ser Thr Tyr Tyr                            50 - #                 55 - #                 60               - - Pro Asp Ser Val Lys Gly Arg Phe Thr Ile Se - #r Arg Asp Asn Ala                            65 - #                 70 - #                 75               - - Lys Asn Thr Leu Tyr Leu Gln Met Ser Ser Le - #u Lys Ser Glu Asp                            80 - #                 85 - #                 90               - - Thr Ala Met Phe Tyr Cys Ala Arg Ala Leu Il - #e Ser Ser Ala Thr                            95 - #                100 - #                105               - - Trp Phe Gly Tyr Trp Gly Gln Gly Thr Leu Va - #l Thr Val Ser Ala                           110  - #               115  - #               120               - - Ala Lys Thr Thr Ala Pro Ser Val Tyr Pro                                                   125  - #               130                                      - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:20:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 31 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:20:                               - - ACAAACGCGT ACGCTGATAT CGTCATGACA G        - #                  - #               31                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:21:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 31 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:21:                               - - GCAGCATCAG CTCTTCGAAG CTCCAGCTTG G        - #                  - #               31                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:22:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 21 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:22:                               - - CCACTAGTAC GCAAGTTCAC G           - #                  - #                       - #21                                                                    - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:23:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 33 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:23:                               - - GATGGGCCCT TGGTGGAGGC TGCAGAGACA GTG       - #                  - #              33                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:24:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 714 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:24:                               - - ATGAAGAAGA ATATCGCATT TCTTCTTGCA TCTATGTTCG TTTTTTCTAT  - #                   50                                                                          - - TGCTACAAAC GCGTACGCTG ATATCGTCAT GACACAGTCT CAAAAATTCA  - #                  100                                                                          - - TGTCCACATC AGTAGGAGAC AGGGTCAGCG TCACCTGCAA GGCCAGTCAG  - #                  150                                                                          - - AATGTGGGTA CTAATGTAGC CTGGTATCAA CAGAAACCAG GGCAATCTCC  - #                  200                                                                          - - TAAAGCACTG ATTTACTCGT CATCCTACCG GTACAGTGGA GTCCCTGATC  - #                  250                                                                          - - GCTTCACAGG CAGTGGATCT GGGACAGATT TCACTCTCAC CATCAGCCAT  - #                  300                                                                          - - GTGCAGTCTG AAGACTTGGC AGACTATTTC TGTCAGCAAT ATAACATCTA  - #                  350                                                                          - - TCCTCTCACG TTCGGTCCTG GGACCAAGCT GGAGCTTCGA AGAGCTGTGG  - #                  400                                                                          - - CTGCACCATC TGTCTTCATC TTCCCGCCAT CTGATGAGCA GTTGAAATCT  - #                  450                                                                          - - GGAACTGCTT CTGTTGTGTG CCTGCTGAAT AACTTCTATC CCAGAGAGGC  - #                  500                                                                          - - CAAAGTACAG TGGAAGGTGG ATAACGCCCT CCAATCGGGT AACTCCCAGG  - #                  550                                                                          - - AGAGTGTCAC AGAGCAGGAC AGCAAGGACA GCACCTACAG CCTCAGCAGC  - #                  600                                                                          - - ACCCTGACGC TGAGCAAAGC AGACTACGAG AAACACAAAG TCTACGCCTG  - #                  650                                                                          - - CGAAGTCACC CATCAGGGCC TGAGCTCGCC CGTCACAAAG AGCTTCAACA  - #                  700                                                                          - - GGGGAGAGTG TTAA              - #                  - #                       - #    714                                                                    - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:25:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 237 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: Amino Acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:25:                               - - Met Lys Lys Asn Ile Ala Phe Leu Leu Ala Se - #r Met Phe Val Phe             1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Ser Ile Ala Thr Asn Ala Tyr Ala Asp Ile Va - #l Met Thr Gln Ser                            20 - #                 25 - #                 30               - - Gln Lys Phe Met Ser Thr Ser Val Gly Asp Ar - #g Val Ser Val Thr                            35 - #                 40 - #                 45               - - Cys Lys Ala Ser Gln Asn Val Gly Thr Asn Va - #l Ala Trp Tyr Gln                            50 - #                 55 - #                 60               - - Gln Lys Pro Gly Gln Ser Pro Lys Ala Leu Il - #e Tyr Ser Ser Ser                            65 - #                 70 - #                 75               - - Tyr Arg Tyr Ser Gly Val Pro Asp Arg Phe Th - #r Gly Ser Gly Ser                            80 - #                 85 - #                 90               - - Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Leu Thr Ile Ser His Va - #l Gln Ser Glu Asp                            95 - #                100 - #                105               - - Leu Ala Asp Tyr Phe Cys Gln Gln Tyr Asn Il - #e Tyr Pro Leu Thr                           110  - #               115  - #               120               - - Phe Gly Pro Gly Thr Lys Leu Glu Leu Arg Ar - #g Ala Val Ala Ala                           125  - #               130  - #               135               - - Pro Ser Val Phe Ile Phe Pro Pro Ser Asp Gl - #u Gln Leu Lys Ser                           140  - #               145  - #               150               - - Gly Thr Ala Ser Val Val Cys Leu Leu Asn As - #n Phe Tyr Pro Arg                           155  - #               160  - #               165               - - Glu Ala Lys Val Gln Trp Lys Val Asp Asn Al - #a Leu Gln Ser Gly                           170  - #               175  - #               180               - - Asn Ser Gln Glu Ser Val Thr Glu Gln Asp Se - #r Lys Asp Ser Thr                           185  - #               190  - #               195               - - Tyr Ser Leu Ser Ser Thr Leu Thr Leu Ser Ly - #s Ala Asp Tyr Glu                           200  - #               205  - #               210               - - Lys His Lys Val Tyr Ala Cys Glu Val Thr Hi - #s Gln Gly Leu Ser                           215  - #               220  - #               225               - - Ser Pro Val Thr Lys Ser Phe Asn Arg Gly Gl - #u Cys                                       230  - #               235  - #   237                           - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:26:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 756 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:26:                               - - ATGAAAAAGA ATATCGCATT TCTTCTTGCA TCTATGTTCG TTTTTTCTAT  - #                   50                                                                          - - TGCTACAAAC GCGTACGCTG AGGTGCAGCT GGTGGAGTCT GGGGGAGGCT  - #                  100                                                                          - - TAGTGCCGCC TGGAGGGTCC CTGAAACTCT CCTGTGCAGC CTCTGGATTC  - #                  150                                                                          - - ATATTCAGTA GTTATGGCAT GTCTTGGGTT CGCCAGACTC CAGGCAAGAG  - #                  200                                                                          - - CCTGGAGTTG GTCGCAACCA TTAATAATAA TGGTGATAGC ACCTATTATC  - #                  250                                                                          - - CAGACAGTGT GAAGGGCCGA TTCACCATCT CCCGAGACAA TGCCAAGAAC  - #                  300                                                                          - - ACCCTGTACC TGCAAATGAG CAGTCTGAAG TCTGAGGACA CAGCCATGTT  - #                  350                                                                          - - TTACTGTGCA AGAGCCCTCA TTAGTTCGGC TACTTGGTTT GGTTACTGGG  - #                  400                                                                          - - GCCAAGGGAC TCTGGTCACT GTCTCTGCAG CCTCCACCAA GGGCCCATCG  - #                  450                                                                          - - GTCTTCCCCC TGGCACCCTC CTCCAAGAGC ACCTCTGGGG GCACAGCGGC  - #                  500                                                                          - - CCTGGGCTGC CTGGTCAAGG ACTACTTCCC CGAACCGGTG ACGGTGTCGT  - #                  550                                                                          - - GGAACTCAGG CGCCCTGACC AGCGGCGTGC ACACCTTCCC GGCTGTCCTA  - #                  600                                                                          - - CAGTCCTCAG GACTCTACTC CCTCAGCAGC GTGGTGACCG TGCCCTCCAG  - #                  650                                                                          - - CAGCTTGGGC ACCCAGACCT ACATCTGCAA CGTGAATCAC AAGCCCAGCA  - #                  700                                                                          - - ACACCAAGGT GGACAAGAAA GTTGAGCCCA AATCTTGTGA CAAAACTCAC  - #                  750                                                                          - - ACATGA                 - #                  - #                  -       #          756                                                                    - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:27:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 251 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: Amino Acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:27:                               - - Met Lys Lys Asn Ile Ala Phe Leu Leu Ala Se - #r Met Phe Val Phe            1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Ser Ile Ala Thr Asn Ala Tyr Ala Glu Val Gl - #n Leu Val Glu Ser                            20 - #                 25 - #                 30               - - Gly Gly Gly Leu Val Pro Pro Gly Gly Ser Le - #u Lys Leu Ser Cys                            35 - #                 40 - #                 45               - - Ala Ala Ser Gly Phe Ile Phe Ser Ser Tyr Gl - #y Met Ser Trp Val                            50 - #                 55 - #                 60               - - Arg Gln Thr Pro Gly Lys Ser Leu Glu Leu Va - #l Ala Thr Ile Asn                            65 - #                 70 - #                 75               - - Asn Asn Gly Asp Ser Thr Tyr Tyr Pro Asp Se - #r Val Lys Gly Arg                            80 - #                 85 - #                 90               - - Phe Thr Ile Ser Arg Asp Asn Ala Lys Asn Th - #r Leu Tyr Leu Gln                            95 - #                100 - #                105               - - Met Ser Ser Leu Lys Ser Glu Asp Thr Ala Me - #t Phe Tyr Cys Ala                           110  - #               115  - #               120               - - Arg Ala Leu Ile Ser Ser Ala Thr Trp Phe Gl - #y Tyr Trp Gly Gln                           125  - #               130  - #               135               - - Gly Thr Leu Val Thr Val Ser Ala Ala Ser Th - #r Lys Gly Pro Ser                           140  - #               145  - #               150               - - Val Phe Pro Leu Ala Pro Ser Ser Lys Ser Th - #r Ser Gly Gly Thr                           155  - #               160  - #               165               - - Ala Ala Leu Gly Cys Leu Val Lys Asp Tyr Ph - #e Pro Glu Pro Val                           170  - #               175  - #               180               - - Thr Val Ser Trp Asn Ser Gly Ala Leu Thr Se - #r Gly Val His Thr                           185  - #               190  - #               195               - - Phe Pro Ala Val Leu Gln Ser Ser Gly Leu Ty - #r Ser Leu Ser Ser                           200  - #               205  - #               210               - - Val Val Thr Val Pro Ser Ser Ser Leu Gly Th - #r Gln Thr Tyr Ile                           215  - #               220  - #               225               - - Cys Asn Val Asn His Lys Pro Ser Asn Thr Ly - #s Val Asp Lys Lys                           230  - #               235  - #               240               - - Val Glu Pro Lys Ser Cys Asp Lys Thr His Th - #r                                           245  - #               250 251                                  - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:28:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 37 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:28:                               - - CCAATGCATA CGCTGACATC GTGATGACCC AGACCCC      - #                        - #      37                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:29:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 37 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:29:                               - - CCAATGCATA CGCTGATATT GTGATGACTC AGACTCC      - #                       - #      37                                                                      - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:30:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 37 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:30:                               - - CCAATGCATA CGCTGACATC GTGATGACAC AGACACC      - #                        - #      37                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:31:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 35 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:31:                               - - AGATGTCAAT TGCTCACTGG ATGGTGGGAA GATGG       - #                        - #       35                                                                      - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:32:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 32 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:32:                               - - CAAACGCGTA CGCTGAGATC CAGCTGCAGC AG       - #                  - #               32                                                                      - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:33:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 32 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:33:                               - - CAAACGCGTA CGCTGAGATT CAGCTCCAGC AG       - #                  - #               32                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:34:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 391 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:34:                               - - GATATCGTGA TGACACAGAC ACCACTCTCC CTGCCTGTCA GTCTTGGAGA  - #                   50                                                                          - - TCAGGCCTCC ATCTCTTGCA GATCTAGTCA GAGCCTTGTA CACGGTATTG  - #                  100                                                                          - - GAAACACCTA TTTACATTGG TACCTGCAGA AGCCAGGCCA GTCTCCAAAG  - #                  150                                                                          - - CTCCTGATCT ACAAAGTTTC CAACCGATTT TCTGGGGTCC CAGACAGGTT  - #                  200                                                                          - - CAGTGGCAGT GGATCAGGGA CAGATTTCAC ACTCAGGATC AGCAGAGTGG  - #                  250                                                                          - - AGGCTGAGGA TCTGGGACTT TATTTCTGCT CTCAAAGTAC ACATGTTCCG  - #                  300                                                                          - - CTCACGTTCG GTGCTGGGAC CAAGCTGGAG CTGAAACGGG CTGATGCTGC  - #                  350                                                                          - - ACCAACTGTA TCCATCTTCC CACCATCCAG TGAGCAATTG A    - #                       - #  391                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:35:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 131 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: Amino Acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:35:                               - - Asp Ile Val Met Thr Gln Thr Pro Leu Ser Le - #u Pro Val Ser Leu             1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Gly Asp Gln Ala Ser Ile Ser Cys Arg Ser Se - #r Gln Ser Leu Val                            20 - #                 25 - #                 30               - - His Gly Ile Gly Asn Thr Tyr Leu His Trp Ty - #r Leu Gln Lys Pro                            35 - #                 40 - #                 45               - - Gly Gln Ser Pro Lys Leu Leu Ile Tyr Lys Va - #l Ser Asn Arg Phe                            50 - #                 55 - #                 60               - - Ser Gly Val Pro Asp Arg Phe Ser Gly Ser Gl - #y Ser Gly Thr Asp                            65 - #                 70 - #                 75               - - Phe Thr Leu Arg Ile Ser Arg Val Glu Ala Gl - #u Asp Leu Gly Leu                            80 - #                 85 - #                 90               - - Tyr Phe Cys Ser Gln Ser Thr His Val Pro Le - #u Thr Phe Gly Ala                            95 - #                100 - #                105               - - Gly Thr Lys Leu Glu Leu Lys Arg Ala Asp Al - #a Ala Pro Thr Val                           110  - #               115  - #               120               - - Ser Ile Phe Pro Pro Ser Ser Glu Gln Leu Ly - #s                                           125  - #               130 131                                  - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:36:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 405 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:36:                               - - GAGATTCAGC TGCAGCAGTC TGGACCTGAG CTGATGAAGC CTGGGGCTTC  - #                   50                                                                          - - AGTGAAGATA TCCTGCAAGG CTTCTGGTTA TTCATTCAGT AGCCACTACA  - #                  100                                                                          - - TGCACTGGGT GAAGCAGAGC CATGGAAAGA GCCTTGAGTG GATTGGCTAC  - #                  150                                                                          - - ATTGATCCTT CCAATGGTGA AACTACTTAC AACCAGAAAT TCAAGGGCAA  - #                  200                                                                          - - GGCCACATTG ACTGTAGACA CATCTTCCAG CACAGCCAAC GTGCATCTCA  - #                  250                                                                          - - GCAGCCTGAC ATCTGATGAC TCTGCAGTCT ATTTCTGTGC AAGAGGGGAC  - #                  300                                                                          - - TATAGATACA ACGGCGACTG GTTTTTCGAT GTCTGGGGCG CAGGGACCAC  - #                  350                                                                          - - GGTCACCGTC TCCTCCGCCA AAACCGACAG CCCCATCGGT CTATCCGGGC  - #                  400                                                                          - - CCATC                 - #                  - #                  - #                405                                                                    - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:37:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 135 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: Amino Acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:37:                               - - Glu Ile Gln Leu Gln Gln Ser Gly Pro Glu Le - #u Met Lys Pro Gly             1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Ala Ser Val Lys Ile Ser Cys Lys Ala Ser Gl - #y Tyr Ser Phe Ser                            20 - #                 25 - #                 30               - - Ser His Tyr Met His Trp Val Lys Gln Ser Hi - #s Gly Lys Ser Leu                            35 - #                 40 - #                 45               - - Glu Trp Ile Gly Tyr Ile Asp Pro Ser Asn Gl - #y Glu Thr Thr Tyr                            50 - #                 55 - #                 60               - - Asn Gln Lys Phe Lys Gly Lys Ala Thr Leu Th - #r Val Asp Thr Ser                            65 - #                 70 - #                 75               - - Ser Ser Thr Ala Asn Val His Leu Ser Ser Le - #u Thr Ser Asp Asp                            80 - #                 85 - #                 90               - - Ser Ala Val Tyr Phe Cys Ala Arg Gly Asp Ty - #r Arg Tyr Asn Gly                            95 - #                100 - #                105               - - Asp Trp Phe Phe Asp Val Trp Gly Ala Gly Th - #r Thr Val Thr Val                           110  - #               115  - #               120               - - Ser Ser Ala Lys Thr Asp Ser Pro Ile Gly Le - #u Ser Gly Pro Ile                           125  - #               130  - #               135               - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:38:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 22 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:38:                               - - CTTGGTGGAG GCGGAGGAGA CG           - #                  - #                      22                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:39:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 38 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:39:                               - - GAAACGGGCT GTTGCTGCAC CAACTGTATT CATCTTCC      - #                       - #     38                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:40:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 31 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:40:                               - - GTCACCGTCT CCTCCGCCTC CACCAAGGGC C        - #                  - #               31                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:41:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 729 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:41:                               - - ATGAAGAAGA ATATCGCATT TCTTCTTGCA TCTATGTTCG TTTTTTCTAT  - #                   50                                                                          - - TGCTACAAAT GCATACGCTG ATATCGTGAT GACACAGACA CCACTCTCCC  - #                  100                                                                          - - TGCCTGTCAG TCTTGGAGAT CAGGCCTCCA TCTCTTGCAG ATCTAGTCAG  - #                  150                                                                          - - AGCCTTGTAC ACGGTATTGG AAACACCTAT TTACATTGGT ACCTGCAGAA  - #                  200                                                                          - - GCCAGGCCAG TCTCCAAAGC TCCTGATCTA CAAAGTTTCC AACCGATTTT  - #                  250                                                                          - - CTGGGGTCCC AGACAGGTTC AGTGGCAGTG GATCAGGGAC AGATTTCACA  - #                  300                                                                          - - CTCAGGATCA GCAGAGTGGA GGCTGAGGAT CTGGGACTTT ATTTCTGCTC  - #                  350                                                                          - - TCAAAGTACA CATGTTCCGC TCACGTTCGG TGCTGGGACC AAGCTGGAGC  - #                  400                                                                          - - TGAAACGGGC TGTTGCTGCA CCAACTGTAT TCATCTTCCC ACCATCCAGT  - #                  450                                                                          - - GAGCAATTGA AATCTGGAAC TGCCTCTGTT GTGTGCCTGC TGAATAACTT  - #                  500                                                                          - - CTATCCCAGA GAGGCCAAAG TACAGTGGAA GGTGGATAAC GCCCTCCAAT  - #                  550                                                                          - - CGGGTAACTC CCAGGAGAGT GTCACAGAGC AGGACAGCAA GGACAGCACC  - #                  600                                                                          - - TACAGCCTCA GCAGCACCCT GACGCTGAGC AAAGCAGACT ACGAGAAACA  - #                  650                                                                          - - CAAAGTCTAC GCCTGCGAAG TCACCCATCA GGGCCTGAGC TCGCCCGTCA  - #                  700                                                                          - - CAAAGAGCTT CAACAGGGGA GAGTGTTAA         - #                  - #                729                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:42:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 242 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: Amino Acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:42:                               - - Met Lys Lys Asn Ile Ala Phe Leu Leu Ala Se - #r Met Phe Val Phe             1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Ser Ile Ala Thr Asn Ala Tyr Ala Asp Ile Va - #l Met Thr Gln Thr                            20 - #                 25 - #                 30               - - Pro Leu Ser Leu Pro Val Ser Leu Gly Asp Gl - #n Ala Ser Ile Ser                            35 - #                 40 - #                 45               - - Cys Arg Ser Ser Gln Ser Leu Val His Gly Il - #e Gly Asn Thr Tyr                            50 - #                 55 - #                 60               - - Leu His Trp Tyr Leu Gln Lys Pro Gly Gln Se - #r Pro Lys Leu Leu                            65 - #                 70 - #                 75               - - Ile Tyr Lys Val Ser Asn Arg Phe Ser Gly Va - #l Pro Asp Arg Phe                            80 - #                 85 - #                 90               - - Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Le - #u Arg Ile Ser Arg                            95 - #                100 - #                105               - - Val Glu Ala Glu Asp Leu Gly Leu Tyr Phe Cy - #s Ser Gln Ser Thr                           110  - #               115  - #               120               - - His Val Pro Leu Thr Phe Gly Ala Gly Thr Ly - #s Leu Glu Leu Lys                           125  - #               130  - #               135               - - Arg Ala Val Ala Ala Pro Thr Val Phe Ile Ph - #e Pro Pro Ser Ser                           140  - #               145  - #               150               - - Glu Gln Leu Lys Ser Gly Thr Ala Ser Val Va - #l Cys Leu Leu Asn                           155  - #               160  - #               165               - - Asn Phe Tyr Pro Arg Glu Ala Lys Val Gln Tr - #p Lys Val Asp Asn                           170  - #               175  - #               180               - - Ala Leu Gln Ser Gly Asn Ser Gln Glu Ser Va - #l Thr Glu Gln Asp                           185  - #               190  - #               195               - - Ser Lys Asp Ser Thr Tyr Ser Leu Ser Ser Th - #r Leu Thr Leu Ser                           200  - #               205  - #               210               - - Lys Ala Asp Tyr Glu Lys His Lys Val Tyr Al - #a Cys Glu Val Thr                           215  - #               220  - #               225               - - His Gln Gly Leu Ser Ser Pro Val Thr Lys Se - #r Phe Asn Arg Gly                           230  - #               235  - #               240               - - Glu Cys                                                                       242                                                                         - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:43:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 762 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:43:                               - - ATGAAAAAGA ATATCGCATT TCTTCTTGCA TCTATGTTCG TTTTTTCTAT  - #                   50                                                                          - - TGCTACAAAC GCGTACGCTG AGATTCAGCT GCAGCAGTCT GGACCTGAGC  - #                  100                                                                          - - TGATGAAGCC TGGGGCTTCA GTGAAGATAT CCTGCAAGGC TTCTGGTTAT  - #                  150                                                                          - - TCATTCAGTA GCCACTACAT GCACTGGGTG AAGCAGAGCC ATGGAAAGAG  - #                  200                                                                          - - CCTTGAGTGG ATTGGCTACA TTGATCCTTC CAATGGTGAA ACTACTTACA  - #                  250                                                                          - - ACCAGAAATT CAAGGGCAAG GCCACATTGA CTGTAGACAC ATCTTCCAGC  - #                  300                                                                          - - ACAGCCAACG TGCATCTCAG CAGCCTGACA TCTGATGACT CTGCAGTCTA  - #                  350                                                                          - - TTTCTGTGCA AGAGGGGACT ATAGATACAA CGGCGACTGG TTTTTCGATG  - #                  400                                                                          - - TCTGGGGCGC AGGGACCACG GTCACCGTCT CCTCCGCCTC CACCAAGGGC  - #                  450                                                                          - - CCATCGGTCT TCCCCCTGGC ACCCTCCTCC AAGAGCACCT CTGGGGGCAC  - #                  500                                                                          - - AGCGGCCCTG GGCTGCCTGG TCAAGGACTA CTTCCCCGAA CCGGTGACGG  - #                  550                                                                          - - TGTCGTGGAA CTCAGGCGCC CTGACCAGCG GCGTGCACAC CTTCCCGGCT  - #                  600                                                                          - - GTCCTACAGT CCTCAGGACT CTACTCCCTC AGCAGCGTGG TGACCGTGCC  - #                  650                                                                          - - CTCCAGCAGC TTGGGCACCC AGACCTACAT CTGCAACGTG AATCACAAGC  - #                  700                                                                          - - CCAGCAACAC CAAGGTGGAC AAGAAAGTTG AGCCCAAATC TTGTGACAAA  - #                  750                                                                          - - ACTCACACAT GA              - #                  - #                       - #      762                                                                    - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:44:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 253 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: Amino Acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:44:                               - - Met Lys Lys Asn Ile Ala Phe Leu Leu Ala Se - #r Met Phe Val Phe             1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Ser Ile Ala Thr Asn Ala Tyr Ala Glu Ile Gl - #n Leu Gln Gln Ser                            20 - #                 25 - #                 30               - - Gly Pro Glu Leu Met Lys Pro Gly Ala Ser Va - #l Lys Ile Ser Cys                            35 - #                 40 - #                 45               - - Lys Ala Ser Gly Tyr Ser Phe Ser Ser His Ty - #r Met His Trp Val                            50 - #                 55 - #                 60               - - Lys Gln Ser His Gly Lys Ser Leu Glu Trp Il - #e Gly Tyr Ile Asp                            65 - #                 70 - #                 75               - - Pro Ser Asn Gly Glu Thr Thr Tyr Asn Gln Ly - #s Phe Lys Gly Lys                            80 - #                 85 - #                 90               - - Ala Thr Leu Thr Val Asp Thr Ser Ser Ser Th - #r Ala Asn Val His                            95 - #                100 - #                105               - - Leu Ser Ser Leu Thr Ser Asp Asp Ser Ala Va - #l Tyr Phe Cys Ala                           110  - #               115  - #               120               - - Arg Gly Asp Tyr Arg Tyr Asn Gly Asp Trp Ph - #e Phe Asp Val Trp                           125  - #               130  - #               135               - - Gly Ala Gly Thr Thr Val Thr Val Ser Ser Al - #a Ser Thr Lys Gly                           140  - #               145  - #               150               - - Pro Ser Val Phe Pro Leu Ala Pro Ser Ser Ly - #s Ser Thr Ser Gly                           155  - #               160  - #               165               - - Gly Thr Ala Ala Leu Gly Cys Leu Val Lys As - #p Tyr Phe Pro Glu                           170  - #               175  - #               180               - - Pro Val Thr Val Ser Trp Asn Ser Gly Ala Le - #u Thr Ser Gly Val                           185  - #               190  - #               195               - - His Thr Phe Pro Ala Val Leu Gln Ser Ser Gl - #y Leu Tyr Ser Leu                           200  - #               205  - #               210               - - Ser Ser Val Val Thr Val Pro Ser Ser Ser Le - #u Gly Thr Gln Thr                           215  - #               220  - #               225               - - Tyr Ile Cys Asn Val Asn His Lys Pro Ser As - #n Thr Lys Val Asp                           230  - #               235  - #               240               - - Lys Lys Val Glu Pro Lys Ser Cys Asp Lys Th - #r His Thr                                   245  - #               250  - #       253                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:45:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 114 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: Amino Acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:45:                               - - Asp Ile Val Met Thr Gln Thr Pro Leu Ser Le - #u Pro Val Ser Leu             1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Gly Asp Gln Ala Ser Ile Ser Cys Arg Ser Se - #r Gln Ser Leu Val                            20 - #                 25 - #                 30               - - His Gly Ile Gly Asn Thr Tyr Leu His Trp Ty - #r Leu Gln Lys Pro                            35 - #                 40 - #                 45               - - Gly Gln Ser Pro Lys Leu Leu Ile Tyr Tyr Ly - #s Val Ser Asn Arg                            50 - #                 55 - #                 60               - - Phe Ser Gly Val Pro Asp Arg Phe Ser Asp Se - #r Gly Ser Gly Thr                            65 - #                 70 - #                 75               - - Asp Phe Thr Leu Arg Ile Ser Arg Val Glu Al - #a Glu Asp Leu Gly                            80 - #                 85 - #                 90               - - Leu Tyr Phe Cys Ser Gln Ser Thr His Val Pr - #o Leu Thr Phe Gly                            95 - #                100 - #                105               - - Ala Gly Thr Lys Leu Glu Leu Lys Arg                                                       110  - #           114                                          - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:46:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 114 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: Amino Acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:46:                               - - Asp Ile Gln Met Thr Gln Ser Pro Ser Ser Le - #u Ser Ala Ser Val             1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Gly Asp Arg Val Thr Ile Thr Cys Arg Ser Se - #r Gln Ser Leu Val                            20 - #                 25 - #                 30               - - His Gly Ile Gly Asn Thr Tyr Leu His Trp Ty - #r Gln Gln Lys Pro                            35 - #                 40 - #                 45               - - Gly Lys Ala Pro Lys Leu Leu Ile Tyr Tyr Ly - #s Val Ser Asn Arg                            50 - #                 55 - #                 60               - - Phe Ser Gly Val Pro Ser Arg Phe Ser Gly Se - #r Gly Ser Gly Thr                            65 - #                 70 - #                 75               - - Asp Phe Thr Leu Thr Ile Ser Ser Leu Gln Pr - #o Glu Asp Phe Ala                            80 - #                 85 - #                 90               - - Thr Tyr Tyr Cys Ser Gln Ser Thr His Val Pr - #o Leu Thr Phe Gly                            95 - #                100 - #                105               - - Gln Gly Thr Lys Val Glu Ile Lys Arg                                                       110  - #           114                                          - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:47:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 109 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: Amino Acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:47:                               - - Asp Ile Gln Met Thr Gln Ser Pro Ser Ser Le - #u Ser Ala Ser Val             1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Gly Asp Arg Val Thr Ile Thr Cys Arg Ala Se - #r Lys Thr Ile Ser                            20 - #                 25 - #                 30               - - Lys Tyr Leu Ala Trp Tyr Gln Gln Lys Pro Gl - #y Lys Ala Pro Lys                            35 - #                 40 - #                 45               - - Leu Leu Ile Tyr Tyr Ser Gly Ser Thr Leu Gl - #u Ser Gly Val Pro                            50 - #                 55 - #                 60               - - Ser Arg Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr As - #p Phe Thr Leu Thr                            65 - #                 70 - #                 75               - - Ile Ser Ser Leu Gln Pro Glu Asp Phe Ala Th - #r Tyr Tyr Cys Gln                            80 - #                 85 - #                 90               - - Gln His Asn Glu Tyr Pro Leu Thr Phe Gly Gl - #n Gly Thr Lys Val                            95 - #                100 - #                105               - - Glu Ile Lys Arg                                                                       109                                                                 - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:48:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 117 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: Amino Acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:48:                               - - Glu Ile Gln Leu Gln Gln Ser Gly Pro Glu Le - #u Met Lys Pro Gly             1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Ala Ser Val Lys Ile Ser Cys Lys Ala Ser Gl - #y Tyr Ser Phe Ser                            20 - #                 25 - #                 30               - - Ser His Tyr Met His Trp Val Lys Gln Ser Hi - #s Gly Lys Ser Leu                            35 - #                 40 - #                 45               - - Glu Trp Ile Gly Tyr Ile Asp Pro Ser Asn Gl - #y Glu Thr Thr Tyr                            50 - #                 55 - #                 60               - - Asn Gln Lys Phe Lys Gly Lys Ala Thr Leu Th - #r Val Asp Thr Ser                            65 - #                 70 - #                 75               - - Ser Ser Thr Ala Asn Val His Leu Ser Ser Le - #u Thr Ser Asp Asp                            80 - #                 85 - #                 90               - - Ser Ala Val Tyr Phe Cys Ala Ala Arg Gly As - #p Tyr Arg Tyr Asn                            95 - #                100 - #                105               - - Gly Asp Trp Phe Phe Asp Val Trp Gly Ala Gl - #y Thr                                       110  - #               115  - #   117                           - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:49:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 117 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: Amino Acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:49:                               - - Glu Val Gln Leu Val Glu Ser Gly Gly Gly Le - #u Val Gln Pro Gly             1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Gly Ser Leu Arg Leu Ser Cys Ala Ala Ser Gl - #y Tyr Ser Phe Ser                            20 - #                 25 - #                 30               - - Ser His Tyr Met His Trp Val Arg Gln Ala Pr - #o Gly Lys Gly Leu                            35 - #                 40 - #                 45               - - Glu Trp Val Gly Tyr Ile Asp Pro Ser Asn Gl - #y Glu Thr Thr Tyr                            50 - #                 55 - #                 60               - - Asn Gln Lys Phe Lys Gly Arg Phe Thr Ile Se - #r Arg Asp Asn Ser                            65 - #                 70 - #                 75               - - Lys Asn Thr Leu Tyr Leu Gln Met Asn Ser Le - #u Arg Ala Glu Asp                            80 - #                 85 - #                 90               - - Thr Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys Ala Ala Arg Gly As - #p Tyr Arg Tyr Asn                            95 - #                100 - #                105               - - Gly Asp Trp Phe Phe Asp Val Trp Gly Gln Gl - #y Thr                                       110  - #               115  - #   117                           - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:50:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 116 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: Amino Acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:50:                               - - Glu Val Gln Leu Val Glu Ser Gly Gly Gly Le - #u Val Gln Pro Gly             1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Gly Ser Leu Arg Leu Ser Cys Ala Ala Ser Gl - #y Phe Ser Phe Thr                            20 - #                 25 - #                 30               - - Gly His Trp Met Asn Trp Val Arg Gln Ala Pr - #o Gly Lys Gly Leu                            35 - #                 40 - #                 45               - - Glu Trp Val Gly Met Ile His Pro Ser Asp Se - #r Glu Thr Arg Tyr                            50 - #                 55 - #                 60               - - Ala Asp Ser Val Lys Gly Arg Phe Thr Ile Se - #r Arg Asp Asn Ser                            65 - #                 70 - #                 75               - - Lys Asn Thr Leu Tyr Leu Gln Met Asn Ser Le - #u Arg Ala Glu Asp                            80 - #                 85 - #                 90               - - Thr Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys Ala Ala Arg Gly Il - #e Tyr Phe Tyr Gly                            95 - #                100 - #                105               - - Thr Thr Tyr Phe Asp Tyr Trp Gly Gln Gly Th - #r                                           110  - #               115 116                                  - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:51:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 242 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: Amino Acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:51:                               - - Met Lys Lys Asn Ile Ala Phe Leu Leu Ala Se - #r Met Phe Val Phe             1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Ser Ile Ala Thr Asn Ala Tyr Ala Asp Ile Gl - #n Met Thr Gln Ser                            20 - #                 25 - #                 30               - - Pro Ser Ser Leu Ser Ala Ser Val Gly Asp Ar - #g Val Thr Ile Thr                            35 - #                 40 - #                 45               - - Cys Arg Ser Ser Gln Ser Leu Val His Gly Il - #e Gly Asn Thr Tyr                            50 - #                 55 - #                 60               - - Leu His Trp Tyr Gln Gln Lys Pro Gly Lys Al - #a Pro Lys Leu Leu                            65 - #                 70 - #                 75               - - Ile Tyr Lys Val Ser Asn Arg Phe Ser Gly Va - #l Pro Ser Arg Phe                            80 - #                 85 - #                 90               - - Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Le - #u Thr Ile Ser Ser                            95 - #                100 - #                105               - - Leu Gln Pro Glu Asp Phe Ala Thr Tyr Tyr Cy - #s Ser Gln Ser Thr                           110  - #               115  - #               120               - - His Val Pro Leu Thr Phe Gly Gln Gly Thr Ly - #s Val Glu Ile Lys                           125  - #               130  - #               135               - - Arg Thr Val Ala Ala Pro Ser Val Phe Ile Ph - #e Pro Pro Ser Asp                           140  - #               145  - #               150               - - Glu Gln Leu Lys Ser Gly Thr Ala Ser Val Va - #l Cys Leu Leu Asn                           155  - #               160  - #               165               - - Asn Phe Tyr Pro Arg Glu Ala Lys Val Gln Tr - #p Lys Val Asp Asn                           170  - #               175  - #               180               - - Ala Leu Gln Ser Gly Asn Ser Gln Glu Ser Va - #l Thr Glu Gln Asp                           185  - #               190  - #               195               - - Ser Lys Asp Ser Thr Tyr Ser Leu Ser Ser Th - #r Leu Thr Leu Ser                           200  - #               205  - #               210               - - Lys Ala Asp Tyr Glu Lys His Lys Val Tyr Al - #a Cys Glu Val Thr                           215  - #               220  - #               225               - - His Gln Gly Leu Ser Ser Pro Val Thr Lys Se - #r Phe Asn Arg Gly                           230  - #               235  - #               240               - - Glu Cys                                                                       242                                                                         - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:52:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 253 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: Amino Acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:52:                               - - Met Lys Lys Asn Ile Ala Phe Leu Leu Ala Se - #r Met Phe Val Phe             1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Ser Ile Ala Thr Asn Ala Tyr Ala Glu Val Gl - #n Leu Val Gln Ser                            20 - #                 25 - #                 30               - - Gly Gly Gly Leu Val Gln Pro Gly Gly Ser Le - #u Arg Leu Ser Cys                            35 - #                 40 - #                 45               - - Ala Ala Ser Gly Tyr Ser Phe Ser Ser His Ty - #r Met His Trp Val                            50 - #                 55 - #                 60               - - Arg Gln Ala Pro Gly Lys Gly Leu Glu Trp Va - #l Gly Tyr Ile Asp                            65 - #                 70 - #                 75               - - Pro Ser Asn Gly Glu Thr Thr Tyr Asn Gln Ly - #s Phe Lys Gly Arg                            80 - #                 85 - #                 90               - - Phe Thr Leu Ser Arg Asp Asn Ser Lys Asn Th - #r Ala Tyr Leu Gln                            95 - #                100 - #                105               - - Met Asn Ser Leu Arg Ala Glu Asp Thr Ala Va - #l Tyr Tyr Cys Ala                           110  - #               115  - #               120               - - Arg Gly Asp Tyr Arg Tyr Asn Gly Asp Trp Ph - #e Phe Asp Val Trp                           125  - #               130  - #               135               - - Gly Gln Gly Thr Leu Val Thr Val Ser Ser Al - #a Ser Thr Lys Gly                           140  - #               145  - #               150               - - Pro Ser Val Phe Pro Leu Ala Pro Ser Ser Ly - #s Ser Thr Ser Gly                           155  - #               160  - #               165               - - Gly Thr Ala Ala Leu Gly Cys Leu Val Lys As - #p Tyr Phe Pro Glu                           170  - #               175  - #               180               - - Pro Val Thr Val Ser Trp Asn Ser Gly Ala Le - #u Thr Ser Gly Val                           185  - #               190  - #               195               - - His Thr Phe Pro Ala Val Leu Gln Ser Ser Gl - #y Leu Tyr Ser Leu                           200  - #               205  - #               210               - - Ser Ser Val Val Thr Val Pro Ser Ser Ser Le - #u Gly Thr Gln Thr                           215  - #               220  - #               225               - - Tyr Ile Cys Asn Val Asn His Lys Pro Ser As - #n Thr Lys Val Asp                           230  - #               235  - #               240               - - Lys Lys Val Glu Pro Lys Ser Cys Asp Lys Th - #r His Thr                                   245  - #               250  - #       253                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:53:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 159 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: Amino Acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:53:                               - - Ser Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Asp Phe As - #p Tyr Glu Lys Met             1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Ala Asn Ala Asn Lys Gly Ala Met Thr Glu As - #n Ala Asp Glu Asn                            20 - #                 25 - #                 30               - - Ala Leu Gln Ser Asp Ala Lys Gly Lys Leu As - #p Ser Val Ala Thr                            35 - #                 40 - #                 45               - - Asp Tyr Gly Ala Ala Ile Asp Gly Phe Ile Gl - #y Asp Val Ser Gly                            50 - #                 55 - #                 60               - - Leu Ala Asn Gly Asn Gly Ala Thr Gly Asp Ph - #e Ala Gly Ser Ser                            65 - #                 70 - #                 75               - - Asn Ser Gln Met Ala Gln Val Gly Asp Gly As - #p Asn Ser Pro Leu                            80 - #                 85 - #                 90               - - Met Asn Asn Phe Arg Gln Tyr Leu Pro Ser Le - #u Pro Gln Ser Val                            95 - #                100 - #                105               - - Glu Cys Arg Pro Phe Val Phe Ser Ala Gly Ly - #s Pro Tyr Glu Phe                           110  - #               115  - #               120               - - Ser Ile Asp Cys Asp Lys Ile Asn Leu Phe Ar - #g Gly Val Phe Ala                           125  - #               130  - #               135               - - Phe Leu Leu Tyr Val Ala Thr Phe Met Tyr Va - #l Phe Ser Thr Phe                           140  - #               145  - #               150               - - Ala Asn Ile Leu Arg Asn Lys Glu Ser                                                       155  - #           159                                          - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:54:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 780 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:54:                               - - ATGAAAAAGA ATATCGCATT TCTTCTTGCA TCTATGTTCG TTTTTTCTAT  - #                   50                                                                          - - TGCTACAAAC GCATACGCTG ATATCCAGAT GACCCAGTCC CCGAGCTCCC  - #                  100                                                                          - - TGTCCGCCTC TGTGGGCGAT AGGGTCACCA TCACCTGCAG GTCAAGTCAA  - #                  150                                                                          - - AGCTTAGTAC ATGGTATAGG TAACACGTAT TTACACTGGT ATCAACAGAA  - #                  200                                                                          - - ACCAGGAAAA GCTCCGAAAC TACTGATTTA CAAAGTATCC AATCGATTCT  - #                  250                                                                          - - CTGGAGTCCC TTCTCGCTTC TCTGGATCCG GTTCTGGGAC GGATTTCACT  - #                  300                                                                          - - CTGACCATCA GCAGTCTGCA GCCAGAAGAC TTCGCAACTT ATTACTGTTC  - #                  350                                                                          - - ACAGAGTACT CATGTCCCGC TCACGTTTGG ACAGGGTACC AAGGTGGAGA  - #                  400                                                                          - - TCAAACGAAC TGTGGCTGCA CCATCTGTCT TCATCTTCCC GCCATCTGAT  - #                  450                                                                          - - GAGCAGTTGA AATCTGGAAC TGCTTCTGTT GTGTGCCTGC TGAATAACTT  - #                  500                                                                          - - CTATCCCAGA GAGGCCAAAG TACAGTGGAA GGTGGATAAC GCCCTCCAAT  - #                  550                                                                          - - CGGGTAACTC CCAGGAGAGT GTCACAGAGC AGGACAGCAA GGACAGCACC  - #                  600                                                                          - - TACAGCCTCA GCAGCACCCT GACGCTGAGC AAAGCAGACT ACGAGAAACA  - #                  650                                                                          - - CAAAGTCTAC GCCTGCGAAG TCACCCATCA GGGCCTGAGC TCGCCCGTCA  - #                  700                                                                          - - CAAAGAGCTT CAACAGGGGA GAGTGTTAAG CTGATCCTCT ACGCCGGACG  - #                  750                                                                          - - CATCGTGGCC CTAGTACGCA ACTAGTCGTA         - #                  - #               780                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:55:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 253 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: Amino Acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:55:                               - - Met Lys Lys Asn Ile Ala Phe Leu Leu Ala Se - #r Met Phe Val Phe             1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Ser Ile Ala Thr Asn Ala Tyr Ala Glu Val Gl - #n Leu Val Glu Ser                            20 - #                 25 - #                 30               - - Gly Gly Gly Leu Val Gln Pro Gly Gly Ser Le - #u Arg Leu Ser Cys                            35 - #                 40 - #                 45               - - Ala Ala Ser Gly Tyr Ser Phe Ser Ser His Ty - #r Met His Trp Val                            50 - #                 55 - #                 60               - - Lys Gln Ala Pro Gly Lys Gly Leu Glu Trp Va - #l Gly Tyr Ile Asp                            65 - #                 70 - #                 75               - - Pro Ser Asn Gly Glu Thr Thr Tyr Asn Gln Ly - #s Phe Lys Gly Arg                            80 - #                 85 - #                 90               - - Phe Thr Leu Ser Arg Asp Asn Ser Lys Asn Th - #r Ala Tyr Leu Gln                            95 - #                100 - #                105               - - Met Asn Ser Leu Arg Ala Glu Asp Thr Ala Va - #l Tyr Tyr Cys Ala                           110  - #               115  - #               120               - - Arg Gly Asp Tyr Arg Tyr Asn Gly Asp Trp Ph - #e Phe Asp Val Trp                           125  - #               130  - #               135               - - Gly Gln Gly Thr Leu Val Thr Val Ser Ser Al - #a Ser Thr Lys Gly                           140  - #               145  - #               150               - - Pro Ser Val Phe Pro Leu Ala Pro Ser Ser Ly - #s Ser Thr Ser Gly                           155  - #               160  - #               165               - - Gly Thr Ala Ala Leu Gly Cys Leu Val Lys As - #p Tyr Phe Pro Glu                           170  - #               175  - #               180               - - Pro Val Thr Val Ser Trp Asn Ser Gly Ala Le - #u Thr Ser Gly Val                           185  - #               190  - #               195               - - His Thr Phe Pro Ala Val Leu Gln Ser Ser Gl - #y Leu Tyr Ser Leu                           200  - #               205  - #               210               - - Ser Ser Val Val Thr Val Pro Ser Ser Ser Le - #u Gly Thr Gln Thr                           215  - #               220  - #               225               - - Tyr Ile Cys Asn Val Asn His Lys Pro Ser As - #n Thr Lys Val Asp                           230  - #               235  - #               240               - - Lys Lys Val Glu Pro Lys Ser Cys Asp Lys Th - #r His Thr                                   245  - #               250  - #       253                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:56:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 242 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: Amino Acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:56:                               - - Met Lys Lys Asn Ile Ala Phe Leu Leu Ala Se - #r Met Phe Val Phe             1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Ser Ile Ala Thr Asn Ala Tyr Ala Asp Ile Gl - #n Met Thr Gln Ser                            20 - #                 25 - #                 30               - - Pro Ser Ser Leu Ser Ala Ser Val Gly Asp Ar - #g Val Thr Ile Thr                            35 - #                 40 - #                 45               - - Cys Arg Ser Ser Gln Ser Leu Val His Gly Il - #e Gly Ala Thr Tyr                            50 - #                 55 - #                 60               - - Leu His Trp Tyr Gln Gln Lys Pro Gly Lys Al - #a Pro Lys Leu Leu                            65 - #                 70 - #                 75               - - Ile Tyr Lys Val Ser Asn Arg Phe Ser Gly Va - #l Pro Ser Arg Phe                            80 - #                 85 - #                 90               - - Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Le - #u Thr Ile Ser Ser                            95 - #                100 - #                105               - - Leu Gln Pro Glu Asp Phe Ala Thr Tyr Tyr Cy - #s Ser Gln Ser Thr                           110  - #               115  - #               120               - - His Val Pro Leu Thr Phe Gly Gln Gly Thr Ly - #s Val Glu Ile Lys                           125  - #               130  - #               135               - - Arg Thr Val Ala Ala Pro Ser Val Phe Ile Ph - #e Pro Pro Ser Asp                           140  - #               145  - #               150               - - Glu Gln Leu Lys Ser Gly Thr Ala Ser Val Va - #l Cys Leu Leu Asn                           155  - #               160  - #               165               - - Asn Phe Tyr Pro Arg Glu Ala Lys Val Gln Tr - #p Lys Val Asp Asn                           170  - #               175  - #               180               - - Ala Leu Gln Ser Gly Asn Ser Gln Glu Ser Va - #l Thr Glu Gln Asp                           185  - #               190  - #               195               - - Ser Lys Asp Ser Thr Tyr Ser Leu Ser Ser Th - #r Leu Thr Leu Ser                           200  - #               205  - #               210               - - Lys Ala Asp Tyr Glu Lys His Lys Val Tyr Al - #a Cys Glu Val Thr                           215  - #               220  - #               225               - - His Gln Gly Leu Ser Ser Pro Val Thr Lys Se - #r Phe Asn Arg Gly                           230  - #               235  - #               240               - - Glu Cys                                                                       242                                                                         - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:57:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 45 amino - #acids                                                  (B) TYPE: Amino Acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:57:                               - - Cys Pro Pro Cys Pro Ala Pro Glu Leu Leu Gl - #y Gly Arg Met Lys             1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Gln Leu Glu Asp Lys Val Glu Glu Leu Leu Se - #r Lys Asn Tyr His                            20 - #                 25 - #                 30               - - Leu Glu Asn Glu Val Ala Arg Leu Lys Lys Le - #u Val Gly Glu Arg                            35 - #                 40 - #                 45               - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:58:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 780 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:58:                               - - ATGAAAAAGA ATATCGCATT TCTTCTTGCA TCTATGTTCG TTTTTTCTAT  - #                   50                                                                          - - TGCTACAAAC GCATACGCTG ATATCCAGAT GACCCAGTCC CCGAGCTCCC  - #                  100                                                                          - - TGTCCGCCTC TGTGGGCGAT AGGGTCACCA TCACCTGCAG GTCAAGTCAA  - #                  150                                                                          - - AGCTTAGTAC ATGGTATAGG TGCTACGTAT TTACACTGGT ATCAACAGAA  - #                  200                                                                          - - ACCAGGAAAA GCTCCGAAAC TACTGATTTA CAAAGTATCC AATCGATTCT  - #                  250                                                                          - - CTGGAGTCCC TTCTCGCTTC TCTGGATCCG GTTCTGGGAC GGATTTCACT  - #                  300                                                                          - - CTGACCATCA GCAGTCTGCA GCCAGAAGAC TTCGCAACTT ATTACTGTTC  - #                  350                                                                          - - ACAGAGTACT CATGTCCCGC TCACGTTTGG ACAGGGTACC AAGGTGGAGA  - #                  400                                                                          - - TCAAACGAAC TGTGGCTGCA CCATCTGTCT TCATCTTCCC GCCATCTGAT  - #                  450                                                                          - - GAGCAGTTGA AATCTGGAAC TGCTTCTGTT GTGTGCCTGC TGAATAACTT  - #                  500                                                                          - - CTATCCCAGA GAGGCCAAAG TACAGTGGAA GGTGGATAAC GCCCTCCAAT  - #                  550                                                                          - - CGGGTAACTC CCAGGAGAGT GTCACAGAGC AGGACAGCAA GGACAGCACC  - #                  600                                                                          - - TACAGCCTCA GCAGCACCCT GACGCTGAGC AAAGCAGACT ACGAGAAACA  - #                  650                                                                          - - CAAAGTCTAC GCCTGCGAAG TCACCCATCA GGGCCTGAGC TCGCCCGTCA  - #                  700                                                                          - - CAAAGAGCTT CAACAGGGGA GAGTGTTAAG CTGATCCTCT ACGCCGGACG  - #                  750                                                                          - - CATCGTGGCC CTAGTACGCA ACTAGTCGTA         - #                  - #               780                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:59:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 927 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:59:                               - - AAAAGGGTAT CTAGAGGTTG AGGTGATTTT ATGAAAAAGA ATATCGCATT  - #                   50                                                                          - - TCTTCTTGCA TCTATGTTCG TTTTTTCTAT TGCTACAAAC GCGTACGCTG  - #                  100                                                                          - - AGGTTCAGCT AGTGCAGTCT GGCGGTGGCC TGGTGCAGCC AGGGGGCTCA  - #                  150                                                                          - - CTCCGTTTGT CCTGTGCAGC TTCTGGCTAC TCCTTCTCGA GTCACTATAT  - #                  200                                                                          - - GCACTGGGTC CGTCAGGCCC CGGGTAAGGG CCTGGAATGG GTTGGATATA  - #                  250                                                                          - - TTGATCCTTC CAATGGTGAA ACTACGTATA ATCAAAAGTT CAAGGGCCGT  - #                  300                                                                          - - TTCACTTTAT CTCGCGACAA CTCCAAAAAC ACAGCATACC TGCAGATGAA  - #                  350                                                                          - - CAGCCTGCGT GCTGAGGACA CTGCCGTCTA TTACTGTGCA AGAGGGGATT  - #                  400                                                                          - - ATCGCTACAA TGGTGACTGG TTCTTCGACG TCTGGGGTCA AGGAACCCTG  - #                  450                                                                          - - GTCACCGTCT CCTCGGCCTC CACCAAGGGC CCATCGGTCT TCCCCCTGGC  - #                  500                                                                          - - ACCCTCCTCC AAGAGCACCT CTGGGGGCAC AGCGGCCCTG GGCTGCCTGG  - #                  550                                                                          - - TCAAGGACTA CTTCCCCGAA CCGGTGACGG TGTCGTGGAA CTCAGGCGCC  - #                  600                                                                          - - CTGACCAGCG GCGTGCACAC CTTCCCGGCT GTCCTACAGT CCTCAGGACT  - #                  650                                                                          - - CTACTCCCTC AGCAGCGTGG TGACCGTGCC CTCCAGCAGC TTGGGCACCC  - #                  700                                                                          - - AGACCTACAT CTGCAACGTG AATCACAAGC CCAGCAACAC CAAGGTCGAC  - #                  750                                                                          - - AAGAAAGTTG AGCCCAAATC TTGTGACAAA ACTCACACAT GCCCGCCGTG  - #                  800                                                                          - - CCCAGCACCA GAACTGCTGG GCGGCCGCAT GAAACAGCTA GAGGACAAGG  - #                  850                                                                          - - TCGAAGAGCT ACTCTCCAAG AACTACCACC TAGAGAATGA AGTGGCAAGA  - #                  900                                                                          - - CTCAAAAAGC TTGTCGGGGA GCGCTAA          - #                  - #                 927                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:60:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 298 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: Amino Acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:60:                               - - Met Lys Lys Asn Ile Ala Phe Leu Leu Ala Se - #r Met Phe Val Phe             1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Ser Ile Ala Thr Asn Ala Tyr Ala Glu Val Gl - #n Leu Val Gln Ser                            20 - #                 25 - #                 30               - - Gly Gly Gly Leu Val Gln Pro Gly Gly Ser Le - #u Arg Leu Ser Cys                            35 - #                 40 - #                 45               - - Ala Ala Ser Gly Tyr Ser Phe Ser Ser His Ty - #r Met His Trp Val                            50 - #                 55 - #                 60               - - Arg Gln Ala Pro Gly Lys Gly Leu Glu Trp Va - #l Gly Tyr Ile Asp                            65 - #                 70 - #                 75               - - Pro Ser Asn Gly Glu Thr Thr Tyr Asn Gln Ly - #s Phe Lys Gly Arg                            80 - #                 85 - #                 90               - - Phe Thr Leu Ser Arg Asp Asn Ser Lys Asn Th - #r Ala Tyr Leu Gln                            95 - #                100 - #                105               - - Met Asn Ser Leu Arg Ala Glu Asp Thr Ala Va - #l Tyr Tyr Cys Ala                           110  - #               115  - #               120               - - Arg Gly Asp Tyr Arg Tyr Asn Gly Asp Trp Ph - #e Phe Asp Val Trp                           125  - #               130  - #               135               - - Gly Gln Gly Thr Leu Val Thr Val Ser Ser Al - #a Ser Thr Lys Gly                           140  - #               145  - #               150               - - Pro Ser Val Phe Pro Leu Ala Pro Ser Ser Ly - #s Ser Thr Ser Gly                           155  - #               160  - #               165               - - Gly Thr Ala Ala Leu Gly Cys Leu Val Lys As - #p Tyr Phe Pro Glu                           170  - #               175  - #               180               - - Pro Val Thr Val Ser Trp Asn Ser Gly Ala Le - #u Thr Ser Gly Val                           185  - #               190  - #               195               - - His Thr Phe Pro Ala Val Leu Gln Ser Ser Gl - #y Leu Tyr Ser Leu                           200  - #               205  - #               210               - - Ser Ser Val Val Thr Val Pro Ser Ser Ser Le - #u Gly Thr Gln Thr                           215  - #               220  - #               225               - - Tyr Ile Cys Asn Val Asn His Lys Pro Ser As - #n Thr Lys Val Asp                           230  - #               235  - #               240               - - Lys Lys Val Glu Pro Lys Ser Cys Asp Lys Th - #r His Thr Cys Pro                           245  - #               250  - #               255               - - Pro Cys Pro Ala Pro Glu Leu Leu Gly Gly Ar - #g Met Lys Gln Leu                           260  - #               265  - #               270               - - Glu Asp Lys Val Glu Glu Leu Leu Ser Lys As - #n Tyr His Leu Glu                           275  - #               280  - #               285               - - Asn Glu Val Ala Arg Leu Lys Lys Leu Val Gl - #y Glu Arg                                   290  - #               295  - #       298                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:61:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 6563 base - #pairs                                                 (B) TYPE: Nucleic Acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: Single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: Linear                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:61:                               - - GAATTCAACT TCTCCATACT TTGGATAAGG AAATACAGAC ATGAAAAATC  - #                   50                                                                          - - TCATTGCTGA GTTGTTATTT AAGCTTGCCC AAAAAGAAGA AGAGTCGAAT  - #                  100                                                                          - - GAACTGTGTG CGCAGGTAGA AGCTTTGGAG ATTATCGTCA CTGCAATGCT  - #                  150                                                                          - - TCGCAATATG GCGCAAAATG ACCAACAGCG GTTGATTGAT CAGGTAGAGG  - #                  200                                                                          - - GGGCGCTGTA CGAGGTAAAG CCCGATGCCA GCATTCCTGA CGACGATACG  - #                  250                                                                          - - GAGCTGCTGC GCGATTACGT AAAGAAGTTA TTGAAGCATC CTCGTCAGTA  - #                  300                                                                          - - AAAAGTTAAT CTTTTCAACA GCTGTCATAA AGTTGTCACG GCCGAGACTT  - #                  350                                                                          - - ATAGTCGCTT TGTTTTTATT TTTTAATGTA TTTGTAACTA GAATTCGAGC  - #                  400                                                                          - - TCGGTACCCG GGGATCCTCT CGAGGTTGAG GTGATTTTAT GAAAAAGAAT  - #                  450                                                                          - - ATCGCATTTC TTCTTGCATC TATGTTCGTT TTTTCTATTG CTACAAACGC  - #                  500                                                                          - - ATACGCTGAT ATCCAGATGA CCCAGTCCCC GAGCTCCCTG TCCGCCTCTG  - #                  550                                                                          - - TGGGCGATAG GGTCACCATC ACCTGCAGGT CAAGTCAAAG CTTAGTACAT  - #                  600                                                                          - - GGTATAGGTG CTACGTATTT ACACTGGTAT CAACAGAAAC CAGGAAAAGC  - #                  650                                                                          - - TCCGAAACTA CTGATTTACA AAGTATCCAA TCGATTCTCT GGAGTCCCTT  - #                  700                                                                          - - CTCGCTTCTC TGGATCCGGT TCTGGGACGG ATTTCACTCT GACCATCAGC  - #                  750                                                                          - - AGTCTGCAGC CAGAAGACTT CGCAACTTAT TACTGTTCAC AGAGTACTCA  - #                  800                                                                          - - TGTCCCGCTC ACGTTTGGAC AGGGTACCAA GGTGGAGATC AAACGAACTG  - #                  850                                                                          - - TGGCTGCACC ATCTGTCTTC ATCTTCCCGC CATCTGATGA GCAGTTGAAA  - #                  900                                                                          - - TCTGGAACTG CTTCTGTTGT GTGCCTGCTG AATAACTTCT ATCCCAGAGA  - #                  950                                                                          - - GGCCAAAGTA CAGTGGAAGG TGGATAACGC CCTCCAATCG GGTAACTCCC  - #                 1000                                                                          - - AGGAGAGTGT CACAGAGCAG GACAGCAAGG ACAGCACCTA CAGCCTCAGC  - #                 1050                                                                          - - AGCACCCTGA CGCTGAGCAA AGCAGACTAC GAGAAACACA AAGTCTACGC  - #                 1100                                                                          - - CTGCGAAGTC ACCCATCAGG GCCTGAGCTC GCCCGTCACA AAGAGCTTCA  - #                 1150                                                                          - - ACAGGGGAGA GTGTTAAGCT GATCCTCTAC GCCGGACGCA TCGTGGCCCT  - #                 1200                                                                          - - AGTACGCAAC TAGTCGTAAA AAGGGTATCT AGAGGTTGAG GTGATTTTAT  - #                 1250                                                                          - - GAAAAAGAAT ATCGCATTTC TTCTTGCATC TATGTTCGTT TTTTCTATTG  - #                 1300                                                                          - - CTACAAACGC GTACGCTGAG GTTCAGCTAG TGCAGTCTGG CGGTGGCCTG  - #                 1350                                                                          - - GTGCAGCCAG GGGGCTCACT CCGTTTGTCC TGTGCAGCTT CTGGCTACTC  - #                 1400                                                                          - - CTTCTCGAGT CACTATATGC ACTGGGTCCG TCAGGCCCCG GGTAAGGGCC  - #                 1450                                                                          - - TGGAATGGGT TGGATATATT GATCCTTCCA ATGGTGAAAC TACGTATAAT  - #                 1500                                                                          - - CAAAAGTTCA AGGGCCGTTT CACTTTATCT CGCGACAACT CCAAAAACAC  - #                 1550                                                                          - - AGCATACCTG CAGATGAACA GCCTGCGTGC TGAGGACACT GCCGTCTATT  - #                 1600                                                                          - - ACTGTGCAAG AGGGGATTAT CGCTACAATG GTGACTGGTT CTTCGACGTC  - #                 1650                                                                          - - TGGGGTCAAG GAACCCTGGT CACCGTCTCC TCGGCCTCCA CCAAGGGCCC  - #                 1700                                                                          - - ATCGGTCTTC CCCCTGGCAC CCTCCTCCAA GAGCACCTCT GGGGGCACAG  - #                 1750                                                                          - - CGGCCCTGGG CTGCCTGGTC AAGGACTACT TCCCCGAACC GGTGACGGTG  - #                 1800                                                                          - - TCGTGGAACT CAGGCGCCCT GACCAGCGGC GTGCACACCT TCCCGGCTGT  - #                 1850                                                                          - - CCTACAGTCC TCAGGACTCT ACTCCCTCAG CAGCGTGGTG ACCGTGCCCT  - #                 1900                                                                          - - CCAGCAGCTT GGGCACCCAG ACCTACATCT GCAACGTGAA TCACAAGCCC  - #                 1950                                                                          - - AGCAACACCA AGGTCGACAA GAAAGTTGAG CCCAAATCTT GTGACAAAAC  - #                 2000                                                                          - - TCACACATGC CCGCCGTGCC CAGCACCAGA ACTGCTGGGC GGCCGCATGA  - #                 2050                                                                          - - AACAGCTAGA GGACAAGGTC GAAGAGCTAC TCTCCAAGAA CTACCACCTA  - #                 2100                                                                          - - GAGAATGAAG TGGCAAGACT CAAAAAGCTT GTCGGGGAGC GCTAAGCATG  - #                 2150                                                                          - - CGACGGCCCT AGAGTCCCTA ACGCTCGGTT GCCGCCGGGC GTTTTTTATT  - #                 2200                                                                          - - GTTAACTCAT GTTTGACAGC TTATCATCGA TAAGCTTTAA TGCGGTAGTT  - #                 2250                                                                          - - TATCACAGTT AAATTGCTAA CGCAGTCAGG CACCGTGTAT GAAATCTAAC  - #                 2300                                                                          - - AATGCGCTCA TCGTCATCCT CGGCACCGTC ACCCTGGATG CTGTAGGCAT  - #                 2350                                                                          - - AGGCTTGGTT ATGCCGGTAC TGCCGGGCCT CTTGCGGGAT ATCGTCCATT  - #                 2400                                                                          - - CCGACAGCAT CGCCAGTCAC TATGGCGTGC TGCTAGCGCT ATATGCGTTG  - #                 2450                                                                          - - ATGCAATTTC TATGCGCACC CGTTCTCGGA GCACTGTCCG ACCGCTTTGG  - #                 2500                                                                          - - CCGCCGCCCA GTCCTGCTCG CTTCGCTACT TGGAGCCACT ATCGACTACG  - #                 2550                                                                          - - CGATCATGGC GACCACACCC GTCCTGTGGA TCCTCTACGC CGGACGCATC  - #                 2600                                                                          - - GTGGCCGGCA TCACCGGCGC CACAGGTGCG GTTGCTGGCG CCTATATCGC  - #                 2650                                                                          - - CGACATCACC GATGGGGAAG ATCGGGCTCG CCACTTCGGG CTCATGAGCG  - #                 2700                                                                          - - CTTGTTTCGG CGTGGGTATG GTGGCAGGCC CCGTGGCCGG GGGACTGTTG  - #                 2750                                                                          - - GGCGCCATCT CCTTGCACGC ACCATTCCTT GCGGCGGCGG TGCTCAACGG  - #                 2800                                                                          - - CCTCAACCTA CTACTGGGCT GCTTCCTAAT GCAGGAGTCG CATAAGGGAG  - #                 2850                                                                          - - AGCGTCGTCC GATGCCCTTG AGAGCCTTCA ACCCAGTCAG CTCCTTCCGG  - #                 2900                                                                          - - TGGGCGCGGG GCATGACTAT CGTCGCCGCA CTTATGACTG TCTTCTTTAT  - #                 2950                                                                          - - CATGCAACTC GTAGGACAGG TGCCGGCAGC GCTCTGGGTC ATTTTCGGCG  - #                 3000                                                                          - - AGGACCGCTT TCGCTGGAGC GCGACGATGA TCGGCCTGTC GCTTGCGGTA  - #                 3050                                                                          - - TTCGGAATCT TGCACGCCCT CGCTCAAGCC TTCGTCACTG GTCCCGCCAC  - #                 3100                                                                          - - CAAACGTTTC GGCGAGAAGC AGGCCATTAT CGCCGGCATG GCGGCCGACG  - #                 3150                                                                          - - CGCTGGGCTA CGTCTTGCTG GCGTTCGCGA CGCGAGGCTG GATGGCCTTC  - #                 3200                                                                          - - CCCATTATGA TTCTTCTCGC TTCCGGCGGC ATCGGGATGC CCGCGTTGCA  - #                 3250                                                                          - - GGCCATGCTG TCCAGGCAGG TAGATGACGA CCATCAGGGA CAGCTTCAAG  - #                 3300                                                                          - - GATCGCTCGC GGCTCTTACC AGCCTAACTT CGATCACTGG ACCGCTGATC  - #                 3350                                                                          - - GTCACGGCGA TTTATGCCGC CTCGGCGAGC ACATGGAACG GGTTGGCATG  - #                 3400                                                                          - - GATTGTAGGC GCCGCCCTAT ACCTTGTCTG CCTCCCCGCG TTGCGTCGCG  - #                 3450                                                                          - - GTGCATGGAG CCGGGCCACC TCGACCTGAA TGGAAGCCGG CGGCACCTCG  - #                 3500                                                                          - - CTAACGGATT CACCACTCCA AGAATTGGAG CCAATCAATT CTTGCGGAGA  - #                 3550                                                                          - - ACTGTGAATG CGCAAACCAA CCCTTGGCAG AACATATCCA TCGCGTCCGC  - #                 3600                                                                          - - CATCTCCAGC AGCCGCACGC GGCGCATCTC GGGCAGCGTT GGGTCCTGGC  - #                 3650                                                                          - - CACGGGTGCG CATGATCGTG CTCCTGTCGT TGAGGACCCG GCTAGGCTGG  - #                 3700                                                                          - - CGGGGTTGCC TTACTGGTTA GCAGAATGAA TCACCGATAC GCGAGCGAAC  - #                 3750                                                                          - - GTGAAGCGAC TGCTGCTGCA AAACGTCTGC GACCTGAGCA ACAACATGAA  - #                 3800                                                                          - - TGGTCTTCGG TTTCCGTGTT TCGTAAAGTC TGGAAACGCG GAAGTCAGCG  - #                 3850                                                                          - - CCCTGCACCA TTATGTTCCG GATCTGCATC GCAGGATGCT GCTGGCTACC  - #                 3900                                                                          - - CTGTGGAACA CCTACATCTG TATTAACGAA GCGCTGGCAT TGACCCTGAG  - #                 3950                                                                          - - TGATTTTTCT CTGGTCCCGC CGCATCCATA CCGCCAGTTG TTTACCCTCA  - #                 4000                                                                          - - CAACGTTCCA GTAACCGGGC ATGTTCATCA TCAGTAACCC GTATCGTGAG  - #                 4050                                                                          - - CATCCTCTCT CGTTTCATCG GTATCATTAC CCCCATGAAC AGAAATTCCC  - #                 4100                                                                          - - CCTTACACGG AGGCATCAAG TGACCAAACA GGAAAAAACC GCCCTTAACA  - #                 4150                                                                          - - TGGCCCGCTT TATCAGAAGC CAGACATTAA CGCTTCTGGA GAAACTCAAC  - #                 4200                                                                          - - GAGCTGGACG CGGATGAACA GGCAGACATC TGTGAATCGC TTCACGACCA  - #                 4250                                                                          - - CGCTGATGAG CTTTACCGCA GCTGCCTCGC GCGTTTCGGT GATGACGGTG  - #                 4300                                                                          - - AAAACCTCTG ACACATGCAG CTCCCGGAGA CGGTCACAGC TTGTCTGTAA  - #                 4350                                                                          - - GCGGATGCCG GGAGCAGACA AGCCCGTCAG GGCGCGTCAG CGGGTGTTGG  - #                 4400                                                                          - - CGGGTGTCGG GGCGCAGCCA TGACCCAGTC ACGTAGCGAT AGCGGAGTGT  - #                 4450                                                                          - - ATACTGGCTT AACTATGCGG CATCAGAGCA GATTGTACTG AGAGTGCACC  - #                 4500                                                                          - - ATATGCGGTG TGAAATACCG CACAGATGCG TAAGGAGAAA ATACCGCATC  - #                 4550                                                                          - - AGGCGCTCTT CCGCTTCCTC GCTCACTGAC TCGCTGCGCT CGGTCGTTCG  - #                 4600                                                                          - - GCTGCGGCGA GCGGTATCAG CTCACTCAAA GGCGGTAATA CGGTTATCCA  - #                 4650                                                                          - - CAGAATCAGG GGATAACGCA GGAAAGAACA TGTGAGCAAA AGGCCAGCAA  - #                 4700                                                                          - - AAGGCCAGGA ACCGTAAAAA GGCCGCGTTG CTGGCGTTTT TCCATAGGCT  - #                 4750                                                                          - - CCGCCCCCCT GACGAGCATC ACAAAAATCG ACGCTCAAGT CAGAGGTGGC  - #                 4800                                                                          - - GAAACCCGAC AGGACTATAA AGATACCAGG CGTTTCCCCC TGGAAGCTCC  - #                 4850                                                                          - - CTCGTGCGCT CTCCTGTTCC GACCCTGCCG CTTACCGGAT ACCTGTCCGC  - #                 4900                                                                          - - CTTTCTCCCT TCGGGAAGCG TGGCGCTTTC TCATAGCTCA CGCTGTAGGT  - #                 4950                                                                          - - ATCTCAGTTC GGTGTAGGTC GTTCGCTCCA AGCTGGGCTG TGTGCACGAA  - #                 5000                                                                          - - CCCCCCGTTC AGCCCGACCG CTGCGCCTTA TCCGGTAACT ATCGTCTTGA  - #                 5050                                                                          - - GTCCAACCCG GTAAGACACG ACTTATCGCC ACTGGCAGCA GCCACTGGTA  - #                 5100                                                                          - - ACAGGATTAG CAGAGCGAGG TATGTAGGCG GTGCTACAGA GTTCTTGAAG  - #                 5150                                                                          - - TGGTGGCCTA ACTACGGCTA CACTAGAAGG ACAGTATTTG GTATCTGCGC  - #                 5200                                                                          - - TCTGCTGAAG CCAGTTACCT TCGGAAAAAG AGTTGGTAGC TCTTGATCCG  - #                 5250                                                                          - - GCAAACAAAC CACCGCTGGT AGCGGTGGTT TTTTTGTTTG CAAGCAGCAG  - #                 5300                                                                          - - ATTACGCGCA GAAAAAAAGG ATCTCAAGAA GATCCTTTGA TCTTTTCTAC  - #                 5350                                                                          - - GGGGTCTGAC GCTCAGTGGA ACGAAAACTC ACGTTAAGGG ATTTTGGTCA  - #                 5400                                                                          - - TGAGATTATC AAAAAGGATC TTCACCTAGA TCCTTTTAAA TTAAAAATGA  - #                 5450                                                                          - - AGTTTTAAAT CAATCTAAAG TATATATGAG TAAACTTGGT CTGACAGTTA  - #                 5500                                                                          - - CCAATGCTTA ATCAGTGAGG CACCTATCTC AGCGATCTGT CTATTTCGTT  - #                 5550                                                                          - - CATCCATAGT TGCCTGACTC CCCGTCGTGT AGATAACTAC GATACGGGAG  - #                 5600                                                                          - - GGCTTACCAT CTGGCCCCAG TGCTGCAATG ATACCGCGAG ACCCACGCTC  - #                 5650                                                                          - - ACCGGCTCCA GATTTATCAG CAATAAACCA GCCAGCCGGA AGGGCCGAGC  - #                 5700                                                                          - - GCAGAAGTGG TCCTGCAACT TTATCCGCCT CCATCCAGTC TATTAATTGT  - #                 5750                                                                          - - TGCCGGGAAG CTAGAGTAAG TAGTTCGCCA GTTAATAGTT TGCGCAACGT  - #                 5800                                                                          - - TGTTGCCATT GCTGCAGGCA TCGTGGTGTC ACGCTCGTCG TTTGGTATGG  - #                 5850                                                                          - - CTTCATTCAG CTCCGGTTCC CAACGATCAA GGCGAGTTAC ATGATCCCCC  - #                 5900                                                                          - - ATGTTGTGCA AAAAAGCGGT TAGCTCCTTC GGTCCTCCGA TCGTTGTCAG  - #                 5950                                                                          - - AAGTAAGTTG GCCGCAGTGT TATCACTCAT GGTTATGGCA GCACTGCATA  - #                 6000                                                                          - - ATTCTCTTAC TGTCATGCCA TCCGTAAGAT GCTTTTCTGT GACTGGTGAG  - #                 6050                                                                          - - TACTCAACCA AGTCATTCTG AGAATAGTGT ATGCGGCGAC CGAGTTGCTC  - #                 6100                                                                          - - TTGCCCGGCG TCAACACGGG ATAATACCGC GCCACATAGC AGAACTTTAA  - #                 6150                                                                          - - AAGTGCTCAT CATTGGAAAA CGTTCTTCGG GGCGAAAACT CTCAAGGATC  - #                 6200                                                                          - - TTACCGCTGT TGAGATCCAG TTCGATGTAA CCCACTCGTG CACCCAACTG  - #                 6250                                                                          - - ATCTTCAGCA TCTTTTACTT TCACCAGCGT TTCTGGGTGA GCAAAAACAG  - #                 6300                                                                          - - GAAGGCAAAA TGCCGCAAAA AAGGGAATAA GGGCGACACG GAAATGTTGA  - #                 6350                                                                          - - ATACTCATAC TCTTCCTTTT TCAATATTAT TGAAGCATTT ATCAGGGTTA  - #                 6400                                                                          - - TTGTCTCATG AGCGGATACA TATTTGAATG TATTTAGAAA AATAAACAAA  - #                 6450                                                                          - - TAGGGGTTCC GCGCACATTT CCCCGAAAAG TGCCACCTGA CGTCTAAGAA  - #                 6500                                                                          - - ACCATTATTA TCATGACATT AACCTATAAA AATAGGCGTA TCACGAGGCC  - #                 6550                                                                          - - CTTTCGTCTT CAA              - #                  - #                       - #    6563                                                                  __________________________________________________________________________ 

We claim:
 1. An antibody fragment selected from the group consisting of: (1) an antibody fragment comprising a light chain amino acid sequence comprising the complementarity determining regions of the light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:56); and (2) an antibody fragment comprising a heavy chain amino acid sequence comprising amino acids 1-230 of the 6G4.2.5HV11 heavy chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIGS. 37A-37B (SEQ ID NO: 60).
 2. The antibody fragment of claim 1 that comprises a light chain amino acid sequence comprising the complementarity determining regions of the light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO: 56).
 3. The antibody fragment of claim 2 wherein the light chain amino acid sequence comprises amino acids 1-219 of the light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO: 56).
 4. The antibody fragment of claim 2 that further comprises a heavy chain amino acid sequence comprising the complementarity determining regions of the heavy chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIGS. 37A-37B (SEQ ID NO: 60).
 5. The antibody fragment of claim 4 wherein the heavy chain amino acid sequence comprises amino acids 1-230 of the heavy chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIGS. 37A-37B (SEQ ID NO: 60).
 6. The antibody fragment of claim 1 that comprises a heavy chain amino acid sequence comprising amino acids 1-230 of the heavy chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIGS. 37A-37B (SEQ ID NO: 60).
 7. The antibody fragment of claim 6 that further comprises a light chain amino acid sequence comprising amino acids 1-219 of the light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIG. 31B (SEQ ID: 51).
 8. The antibody fragment of claim 1 that is selected from the group consisting of Fab, Fab', Fab'-SH, Fv, scFv and F(ab')₂.
 9. The antibody fragment of claim 8 that is a F(ab')₂.
 10. The antibody fragment of claim 3, wherein the antibody fragment is a F(ab')₂ containing a first heavy chain amino acid sequence and a second heavy chain amino acid sequence each comprising amino acids 1-238 of the heavy chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIGS. 37A-37B (SEQ ID NO: 60), and wherein each of the Cys residues at positions 231 and 234 in the first heavy chain amino acid sequence is in a disulfide linkage with the identical Cys residue in the second heavy chain amino acid sequence.
 11. The antibody fragment of claim 1 that is a single chain polypeptide.
 12. An anti-IL-8 monoclonal antibody selected from the group consisting of: (1) an anti-IL-8 monoclonal antibody comprising an antigen binding site comprising the complementarity determining regions of the light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO: 56) and the complementarity determining regions of the heavy chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIGS. 37A-37B (SEQ ID NO: 60); and (2) an anti-IL-8 monoclonal antibody comprising a heavy chain containing amino acids 1-230 of the heavy chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIGS. 37A-37B (SEQ ID NO: 60) and further comprising a light chain containing amino acids 1-219 of the light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIG. 31B (SEQ ID NO: 51).
 13. The antibody of claim 12 that comprises an antigen binding site comprising the complementarity determining regions of the light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO: 56) and the complementarity determining regions of the heavy chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIGS. 37A-37B (SEQ ID NO: 60).
 14. The antibody of claim 13, wherein the antibody contains a light chain amino acid sequence that comprises amino acids 1-219 of the light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO: 56) and comprises a heavy chain amino acid sequence that comprises amino acids 1-230 of the heavy chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIGS. 37A-37B (SEQ ID NO: 60).
 15. The antibody of claim 14, wherein the heavy chain amino acid sequence is fused at its C-terminus to a leucine zipper amino acid sequence.
 16. The antibody of claim 15, wherein the leucine zipper amino acid sequence comprises amino acids 231-275 of the heavy chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIGS. 37A-37B (SEQ ID NO: 60).
 17. The antibody of claim 12 that comprises a heavy chain amino acid sequence containing amino acids 1-230 of the heavy chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIGS. 37A-37B (SEQ ID NO: 60) and further comprises a light chain amino acid sequence containing amino acids 1-219 of the light chain polypeptide amino acid sequence of FIG. 31B (SEQ ID NO: 51).
 18. A composition comprising the antibody fragment of claim 1 and a carrier.
 19. A composition comprising the antibody of claim 12 and a carrier. 